FAMILY GUY

But trip home cost Mako England spot

MAKO VUNIPOLA has opened up for the first time on the mid-season dash to Tonga which ended with him playing for Saracens instead of England.

The prop spent a fortnight in the Pacific Islands in the middle of the Six Nations, meaning he was not available for England’s game against Ireland.

Injured brother Billy accompanied him on the journey, which it turns out was to say goodbye to their dying grandmother. Or so they thought.

Vunipola said: “My grandmother had fallen quite ill and my dad was worried that it would be it. I started thinking, ‘What is most important here?’

“Family is a massive part of Tongan culture and I decided I wanted to go to see her.

“But, day by day, while we were there she improved. At the minute, although she is still not 100 per cent, she is recovering well.

“We still don’t know what the illness was. The family joke that she was just making an excuse to see us!

“Especially with what is going on now, we’re just thankful we got the chance to go see her.”

Her unexpected recovery may have sent them back to England upbeat but there was an unanticipated sting in the tail.

Vunipola had made himself available for England’s ■

next game against Wales but was told not to turn up to their training camp, with the squad’s medics concerned

■ he may have contracted coronavirus on his way back through Hong Kong Airport.

The measure, which was criticised by Public Health England at the time, cost him a 60th cap and was all the more baffling as he played for Saracens the same weekend.

“I was meant to meet up with England on the Monday,” said Vunipola.

“I was getting ready to do so when I got a message from the team manager asking which route I had taken back from Tonga.

“I told them I had gone through Hong Kong. Then the doctor rang me and made the call. The doctors at Saracens gave me the test – I had nothing – and kept checking all week so they decided that I could play.

“Looking back, it was the right call for England. I understand completely.

“In any case the boys had played that well against Ireland that it would have been very difficult for me to have pushed myself back in.”

A stop-start season for Vunipola has now come to a complete halt but he will have plenty to occupy himself with as partner Alex is due to give birth to their second child later this month.

Also on his mind will be the decision on his club future. He has been linked with a move to Super Rugby, with Saracens relegated, but dismisses the possibility.

He said: “Super Rugby would be very difficult with all the travel. I’d maybe be interested later on.”

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