Vunipola brothers could be set for shock Rugby World Cup role

England and Lions star Mako Vunipola is hoping to be part of the Tonga coaching set-up at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, with younger brother Billy a potential high-profile addition to the playing squad.

Tongan rugby officials have sounded out both former England stars about joining the playing squad, and while Billy could opt to use the World Rugby three-year stand-down rule to switch to the country of his parents’ birth, Mako is adamant the tournament would come a year too late for him as a player.

Mako, 34, has set his sights on a coaching career when his current Pro D2 deal with Vannes finishes at the end of this season while Billy, aged two years younger, is impressing in a reshaped Montpellier pack in the Top 14.

The Vunipolas have strong emotional and rugby ties to Tonga with their father Fe’ao, a former captain, representing the Islands nation at the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cups, while their mother Rev. Iesinga Vunipola, is a Methodist minister and has been chaplain to the UK Tongan community.

Their famous rugby playing sons were qualified for Wales and England on residency and Australia (Billy) and New Zealand (Mako) by birth. They opted for England, with Mako winning 79 caps and appearing in nine Lions tests, while Billy collected the last of his 75 caps in 2023.

Mako, a winner of four Premiership titles and three European Champions Cups while at Saracens, told RugbyPass: “I have had discussions with (Tonga) and if it was in 2026 then it is something I may have considered but next year I want to get into coaching. I know they have talked to Billy and are keen to get him involved.

“I have spoken to the coach (Tevita Tu’ifua) and coaching is something I would really love to help with because I am very proud of my Tongan heritage. Coaching Billy? It’s something I had done throughout our time together at Sarries! But being serious, it would be very special and I have always tried to help his game and as brothers we are always supportive of each other.

“This is going to be my final year as a player and I would then like to transition into coaching and getting experience is something I would like to do, and if that happened with Tonga it would be great.

“I don’t think the body would be able to last as a player until 2027 and its not just playing – it’s the training and preparation that takes its toll.

“I have had discussions (about playing) with Tonga and if the World Cup was at the end of this season then it may have been a possibility, but not in 2027.”

Tonga has reportedly also approached All Black Richie Mo’unga for the 2027 tournament while four former New Zealand internationals Malakai Fekitoa, Charles Piutau, Vaea Fifita and Augustine Pulu played for Tonga at the 2023 World Cup.

Mako is still a key member of the Vannes team that battled so impressively to try and hold onto their Top 14 status only to fall short. Relegation means they are now facing a demanding season of trying to earn promotion again to the top flight from the ultra-competitive Pro D2.

Vannes are currently second in the table and visit leaders Colomiers this weekend. While the second division of French rugby lacks the big names stars of the Top 14 it remains an uncompromising challenge and Mako said: “ It is more set piece-based than the Top 14 and you have be switched on all the time.

“We have started well but there is still a long way to go and having achieved promotion (two seasons ago) we know what it takes to get back up to the Top 14. All of our home games get sold out and there is talk of us taking the match with Grenoble to one of the football stadiums where they could fit in 30,000 fans which is incredible.”

With Tom Willis opting to leave Saracens at the end of the season and rejoin Bordeaux in the Top 14, it means that arguably England’s outstanding No8 – Tom- and best ball stealing back rower (Jack Willis at Toulouse) cannot be picked by Steve Borthwick, the head coach, as he builds towards the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

The Willises are following in the footsteps of the Vunipolas in crossing the Channel and Mako insists not selecting “ overseas” players is correct for England.

He retired from Test rugby before joining Vannes and added: “I do support the rule that you have to play in England if you want to get picked for the national team. It’s important that the best young guys are in English rugby and that the fans can see players like Henry Pollock playing for their clubs. Obviously, Jack has been outstanding for Toulouse and he and his brother have made their own decisions about what is best for them and their families.”

French rugby has brought in changes that affect both the Willises and Vunipolas, with the scrum now having to be fed by the scrum-half down the middle of tunnel rather than the ball shoved under the feet of their own front row.

It is aimed at making the put-in a real contest again which means all eight forwards have to be switched on at this crucial set piece with a strike against the head now a real possibility. “It is a bit like going back in time putting the ball down the middle of the scrum and it has been a talking point here in France,” added Mako.

“It has taken a bit of getting used for the scrum-halves and in one of our early games this season our scrum-half basically put in under their hooker’s foot, but we have sorted it out and it does make it more of a contest.

“They have looked at the lineout and made some changes and now they have moved onto the scrum and it’s always us forwards who are having to make changes. The backs just stand out there waiting to throw it around.”