Vunipola: 'No regrets' over Saracens property deal and 'would do it again'
Mako Vunipola has no regrets over entering the business arrangements that contributed to disgraced Saracens’ relegation from the Gallagher Premiership.
The fallen English and European champions have been docked a total of 105 points to ensure they are demoted to the second tier as punishment for repeated breaches of salary cap regulations.
Vunipola was the recipient of £450,000 that was paid by owner and former chairman Nigel Wray into Vunprop, a company joint owned with his younger brother Billy, with the purpose of buying a house.
The report on the investigation into the breaches for the last three seasons also showed that they received interest-free loans for home renovations.
Wray had entered into property investments with a number of players, claiming that investment is not salary, but the independent panel chaired by Lord Dyson viewed the payments as a way of circumnavigating the £7million salary cap.
Asked if he regrets entering into the arrangements, Vunipola said: “No regrets at all. If I had the choice to do it again, I would do it again knowing what has happened.
“That’s no slight at not caring about what has happened to the club, more the fact that I know rugby is important and our careers are short and I want to look ahead a bit.
“When I entered into them, they were all – to my knowledge – above board. There wasn’t any intention or even a thought that this was not above board."https://t.co/M9UHa4FHCL
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 13, 2020
“It’s business as usual. In terms of Nigel, he’s still there and backs us. For me and my brother he’s allowed us to just focus on the rugby.”
Vunipola, who along with his Saracens team-mates is exonerated of any blame for the salary cap infringements, never envisaged his co-investment with Wray would have such far-reaching repercussions.
“No, not in the slightest. Nigel presented the opportunity to us and as rugby players our careers aren’t that long,” the England prop said.
“Any opportunity that can help or sort a little bit of our future after rugby, we’re more than willing to look into it. That was our thinking when we first invested with Nigel and that’s not changed.
“He came to us (with the investment), but he also understood that we were looking for further on in our futures and not just in rugby.
“It’s not been a comfortable three weeks, but probably it’s been more difficult for friends and family who hear and read all this stuff. It has been difficult for them.
“When they announced we were definitely relegated that was probably the lowest.”
Jamie George is the only member of Saracens’ England contingent to commit his future to the club for their season in the Championship, but Vunipola is less certain of what lies ahead.
“Right now I don’t really know. Some things need to happen before I can say I’m definitely staying,” Vunipola said.
“There’s things aren’t in my control but hopefully it get sorted sooner rather than later.”
PA
Comments on RugbyPass
Bulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
80 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
1 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
80 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
80 Go to commentsYep, lost in translation. There are arrogant people in Ireland, yes. As there are arrogant people in every country, but as a nation, arrogance is not a general characteristic in Ireland. There has not really had a strong representation for any global sport over the years, and hence arrogance is not endemic to Irish people in this regard. I seriously doubt that was said or meant by 12 or 13 players. If it was said, it would have been said in jest and to pay Etzebeth and the Springboks a compliment for how hard fought the game was.
80 Go to commentsOne of the few Bidwell articles I can agree with. If coaches played their players through niggles and consistently played them 80mins then you could make an argument for resting protocols - they obviously don’t and are incredibly responsible, let’s give up the resting nonsense and let the boys play.
4 Go to commentsDaniel Gallan, please for the love of all that is holy, stop writing about rugby. Or at the very least stop telling people you are South African.
21 Go to commentsThis Dr.Rassie 6-2 filth is spreading. We need to ask World Rugby to ban something
1 Go to commentsPity he couldn’t call him a liar to his face, such a brave man.
80 Go to comments“You ain’t counting to 12 or 13 straight after a game, son!” Just because you don’t doesn’t mean everyone else doesn’t “I reckon if anyone said it they would have said, ‘Hopefully, see you in the final’.” Oh, you “reckon”, do you? You weren’t there, you weren’t part of the conversation but you know what was said… Id10T
80 Go to commentsNZ has such a rich history of quality number nines, and woman beaters.
2 Go to comments