Billy Vunipola agrees Top 14 switch - report

Saracens No8 Billy Vunipola has joined the burgeoning list of England internationals moving to the Top 14 next season by agreeing a two-year deal with Montpellier, according to French outlet Midi Olympique. 

The report comes almost two weeks after a potential move was flagged by RugbyPass. 

The 29-year-old will bring his decade-long stay with the reigning Gallagher Premiership champions to an end at the close of this season, and team up with fellow England No8 Sam Simmonds in the south of France.

The move will continue Montpellier’s recent tradition of recruiting English No8s, with Zach Mercer also winning the Top 14 with them in 2022.

Vunipola will join his Saracens teammate Owen Farrell in moving to France at the end of the season, with the fly-half set to join Racing 92. They will also lock horns with Manu Tuilagi next term, whose move to Bayonne was confirmed this week following his final appearance for England against France.

After failing to make Steve Borthwick’s squad for the Guinness Six Nations this year, the 75-cap international’s Test future did not look promising, but this move will definitively bring an end to it. Vunipola’s last appearance, therefore, in an England jersey was the World Cup semi-final loss to South Africa last year.

The 126kg back row joined Saracens from Wasps in 2013, and has gone on to win five Premiership titles and three Investec Champions Cups. He has the opportunity to add to his silverware collection this season, with Saracens sat in fourth place in the league and with an away round of 16 tie against Bordeaux-Begles in the Champions Cup in April.