Mako is rushed back to carry England home
MAKO VUNIPOLA has been catapulted back into England’s Six Nations squad ahead of Sunday’s game against Italy despite playing just 70 minutes of rugby since December.
But brother Billy appears to be losing his race to be fit for the end of the tournament. The No 8 will join up with the party but only to be assessed by England medics.
The pair both suffered knee injuries before Christmas but loosehead Mako proved his fitness in Saracens’ defeat at Gloucester last Friday.
The 26-year-old’s ball-carrying has been missed in the wins over France and Wales and head coach Eddie Jones could not get him back quickly enough. However, Billy revealed at the weekend he is unlikely to make the Ireland finale on March 18.
With neither Matt Mullan nor Ellis Genge included in the 28-man training group, Vunipola Snr is set to play some part this weekend and is in competition with Joe Marler to start in the No 1 jersey.
Leicester flanker Mike Williams is also in the squad and could make the bench, with Jones set to name his team on Friday as England bid for a 17th win on the spin.
RICHARD COCKERILL’S brief exile in France will finish in the summer when he takes over as Edinburgh head coach next season.
Cockerill, sacked by Leicester Tigers last month, has been acting as consultant to Toulon in the French Top 14.
Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond will appear in front of an RFU disciplinary panel tomorrow night. Diamond is accused of abusing match officials after Sale’s 13-10 win over Harlequins in the AngloWelsh Cup on February 3.
Former Northampton flanker Phil Dowson, now at Worcester, will retire at the end of the season and return to Franklin’s Gardens as an assistant coach. The 35-year-old played 187 times for the Saints between 2009 to 2015.
Newcastle have signed Matavesi brothers Josh and Joel for next season.
Fiji centre Josh, 26, joins from Ospreys, while fly-half Joel, 21, heads to Kingston Park from National Two South club
Redruth.