Mako Vunipola set for PREM return as Saracens' rivals snap up England great

Leicester Tigers have signed up veteran former England and Lions loosehead Mako Vunipola from Pro D2 leaders Vannes to bolster their front-row options for next season.

The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Vunipola, who has spent the last two seasons playing in Brittany after a highly successful career with Saracens, has signed a deal for next season.

Vannes, who are bidding for a quick return to the Top 14, weren’t going to offer him a contract for next season after signing his replacement from Bordeaux, former France U20 international Ugo Boniface.

New Zealand-born Vunipola, who will be 36 next January, is tipped to move into coaching when he does hang up his boots, but that won’t be for another season at least following his move to Welford Road.

It is easy to see why the Tigers, who have lost Wales star Nicky Smith to Sale Sharks, have snapped him up after being part of a Saracens squad that won four PREM titles and three European Cups.

A World Cup runner-up in 2019, Vunipola, who has won 79 England caps and been selected for three Lions tours, played almost 200 times for the North London outfit before moving to France, where he has scored three tries in 32 games.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Leicester

08:00

22 Mar 26

Bristol

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He isn’t the only front-row player due to move to Leicester next season. Last month, we revealed that Geoff Parling had won the race to land La Rochelle tighthead Joel Sclavi when his contract with the Top 14 outfit runs out at the end of the season.

Argentina international Sclavi, 31, who has spent most of his career in France with Pau, Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente, and now La Rochelle, has struggled to hold down a regular place in Ronan O’Gara’s side this season.

The Tigers beat off a bid from Gloucester to land Sclavi, who was born in Mar del Plata and was a member of the La Rochelle squad that won the Champions Cup in 2022.