Vunipola Brothers Set For Southern Hemisphere Switch?

Mako and Billy Vunipola could be set for stints in Super Rugby according to The Rugby Paper who have reported that the pair are attracting interest from numerous Super Rugby sides for the 2021 season.

The England duo were both born down under and qualified for England through residency by growing up in Wales and move back down South with Saracens being relegated to the Championship next season following the club's punishment for multiple salary cap breaches.

Both players are also in the final year of their respective contracts with the club. 

Harlequins and England centre Joe Marchant is currently plying his trade on loan with the Blues and New Zealand Rugby’s head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum saying in January, that it was possible more high-profile players could seek a change of scenery following Saracens' relegation.

“It will be interesting to see now that they’re relegated what happens with some of their key players – their high wage players, their England players, and how the rest of the competition reacts,” Lendrum told the Herald.

The brothers have always intimated they wanted to play Super Rugby at some stage of their careers and have had sabbatical clauses in their past club contracts.

Both Eddie Jones (England) and Warren Gatland (British and Irish Lions) have indicated that they would select England's and Saracens' top players if they were in the Championship with both also open to the idea of selecting player's plying their trade outside of the Home Nations.

However, this could be a stumbling block as recent reports have stated that Premiership club owners blocked a loan move that would Maro Itoje play in France next season while still being available for international selection.