News about Billy Vunipola

Steve Diamond, Newcastle's rugby consultant, would 'definitely' welcome the Falcons as the first Gallagher Premiership club to receive Saudi Arabian funding. The city's Premier League football team Newcastle United is already 80% owned by a sovereign wealth fund from the cash-rich gulf state known as the Public Investment Fund (PIF). And there's a chance that Saudi Arabian funds will soon be available at Kingston Park, as Diamond continues to expand the Falcons' position both on and off the field.

CHRIS FOY: England seems to have crossed the road as they brace for a showdown with Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday. They have reached a difficult junction, in fact, all the lights are off, and they don't have a map. When Steve Borthwick took over the national team in December 2022, the buzz word was 'clarity,' and that was achieved with a narrow game-plan at the new World Cup.

CHIRS FOY: England started their 2024 Six Nations campaign with a win, putting an end to the team's trail of 10-0 in the first half after four years of defeats. Monty Ioane's last-play attempt gave Italy a well-deserved losing bonus point. But the tourists had been aiming for a decisive strike at the other end just moments before, and the margin might have been 17 points rather than three. Borthwick will lead a rapid review process at Surrey's national squad's Surrey headquarters before turning his attention to the showdown with Wales at Twickenham on Saturday. After a game which saw five English newcomers make victorious debuts, there was plenty for the head coach and his staff to ponder; reasons for optimism and causes for concern…

In a redesigned post-World Cup squad for the forthcoming Six Nations, England head coach Steve Borthwick has seven uncapped players. The headlines feature Kyle Sinckler and Billy Vunipola. Sinckler is set to leave Bristol to Toulon at the end of the season, although his younger Vunipola brother is absent amid rumors that he will rejoin Suntory Sungoliath in Japan after this season. In total, there are 17 survivors from the 34 players who appeared at the World Cup in France, where the team won a surprise bronze medal at the tournament.

As Steve Borthwick has named seven uncapped players as part of a major post-World Cup revival, Kyle Sinckler and Billy Vunipola have been omitted from England's squad for the Six Nations. Saracens Hooker Jamie George has been named captain, as planned, but two of his fellow Red Rose pack stalwarts are not included. Sinckler is expected to leave Bristol at the end of the season to join Toulon, although the younger Vunipola brother is absent, amid rumors that he may join Suntory Sungoliath in Japan after this season. There are just 17 survivors from the 34 players who appeared at the World Cup.

Billy Vunipola has been in talks with Suntory Sungoliath about a potential transfer to Japan as the No. 8 weighs up whether you choose to remain with Saracens or commit to a lucrative stint in the Far East. The 31-year-old had been with the Tokyo-based squad in Japan's burgeoning League One, but the Premiership champions decided against extending his contract. However, the former England pack stalwart is facing a question regarding his career path following a bit-part appearance in the latest World Cup. Mail Sport has learned that talks with Sungoliath have continued, but Saracens have also agreed to a new contract. Crucially, the younger of the Vunipola brothers is unlikely to be eligible for one of the RFU's new 'enhanced EPS' contracts worth up to £150,000 for players who are regarded as a vital piece of England head coach Steve Borthwick's scheme.

CHRIS FOY: After an epic World Cup finish with a slew of retirements, England is back in a new era. Courtney Laws, Ben Youngs, and Jonny May have all passed away, though Owen Farrell's attention will be on Saracens for the foreseeable future. It could be a very new-look England in the Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on February 3, despite rumors regarding veterans Dan Cole and Billy Vunipola.

Zach Mercer was coming to terms with some ego-deflating gifts; a book on being interesting; and some hair-growth cream. 'I suppose they don't find me particularly interesting here,' the 26-year-old No 8 told Mail Sport with a wry smile. The accusation that he is follically impaired was harsh, but fair. 'I've got the 'widow's peak,' he said. 'Unfortunately, it runs in the family, so I don't think I will get away from it.' Mercer came to Gloucester with a stellar reputation after his award-winning, title-winning victories for Montpellier in France's Top 14 league, but he has had a tough career period, with a World Cup suspension and an untimely injury early in his first season with his new team. The latter issue was not addressed in a hurry as the former Bath back-rower made his comeback against Clermont Auvergne last week after initial, doomsday rumors that he would be out for months.

Xclusive INTERVIEW BY ALEX BYWATER: Mako and Billy Vunipola have already made it to England rugby's highest level, and now another young man with Pacific Island blood hopes is aiming for the top. Following Wasps' demise, Greg Fisilau, 20, is making a splash with Exeter Chiefs. Former Plymouth Albion center and Tongan international Keni, Fisilau's father, grew up with Fe'ao Vunipola, whose sons are Mako and Billy. Fisilau, a No. 8 like Billy, is hoping to follow in his footsteps one day. The two people are not immediate relatives but acquaintances who refer to each other as family.

Henry Arundell has signed a new deal with French giants Racing 92, which immediately renders him ineligible for international service with England. After the demise of London Ireland, Arundell, the best hope in the English game, has migrated to Paris. State players with clubs outside of England are forbidden from representing the RFU. He was supposed to be available for the Six Nations as part of the RFU's extraordinary circumstances policy, but this changed earlier this month, forcing Arundell to a decision.

Owen Farrell was booed at every kick by a raucous audience. Farrell, who returned to Saracens after his decision to take a break from international rugby, was one of his team's best players, despite being booed and applauded as he missed both conversions. The London team suffered in their first Champions Cup game against a Bulls team that revelled in the weather - a balmy 24 degrees after a thunderstorm cooled the air before kick-off - losing both Maro Itoje and Alex Goode to yellow cards in the first half.

England is aiming for their second straight Rugby World Cup final on Tuesday, but South Africa is also up for a tough challenge. When they defeated Fiji, Steve Borthwick's side survived a big scare to make it five wins out of five. When South Africa defeated France last weekend, they played out one of the best matches of the tournament.

CHRIS FOY: This is it, the moment of truth. With a game that will define this campaign and several careers, the business end of the World Cup for England begins. Steve Borthwick's crew must win to protect names and avoid tumultuous inquests. The quarter-final showdown with Fiji at Stade Velodrome tomorrow demonstrated the sharp divide between a pass mark and a failure. Victory would send the national team into the last four, which was widely believed to be the upper limit of what could be expected of them in those difficult circumstances at this tournament. No doubt that the defeat would be seen as a failure. Whatever happens, Borthwick's England team is secure because he has the complete support of his manageresses at the RFU, but a game that might come as a verdict on the rushed first phase of the recovery effort that he accepted late last year is a huge factor. This year's chaos, upheaval, instability, critique, and turmoil has all contributed to this make-or-break occasion.

Follow Mail Sport's live blog for all the latest updates as England takes on Japan in their second game of the Rugby World Cup. In an amazing victory over Argentina in their first World Cup outing, Steve Borthwick's side saw fly-half George Ford drop England to glory in the absence of Owen Farrell. Despite Billy Vunipola being back, Tom Curry is out for the first time as he serves the first of a two-match suspension for his red card in the victory over the Pumas.

On Sunday evening, England will face feisty underdogs Japan in their second World Cup match on the French Riviera against feisty underdogs Japan. Despite playing with only 14 men, Steve Borthwick's side renewed their tournament aspirations in their opener against Argentina. If England clinch victory in Nice, it would be a foregone conclusion in the knockout rounds, with only Chile left to swat aside.

CHRIS FOY IN LE TOUQUET: This is smart from England, and it is a pleasure to hear it. They may have had reason to contest the charges against Tom Curry, but by accepting the red card, they know they will be back for when they need him most. After an incident that was very similar to other head-on-head clashes over the weekend, the Sale flanker was barred. The judiciary has disciplined Curry, but no action has been taken against either South Africa centre Jesse Kriel or Chile captain Martin Sigren.

SIMON (NIK SIMON): After being sent off in the World Cup opener against Argentina, England flanker Tom Curry has been banned for two matches. Following his sending off for a head-on-head collision with full-back Juan Cruz Malla, Curry will miss the Pool D games against Japan and Chile. The offence receives a six-week suspension, but it was reduced to three due to Curry's good character, before being banned from attending tackle school for the third week this week.

CHRIS FOY: Many of those who were there to help the underdogs became part of a re-connection between the team and the public at a re-connection event. It seemed like a watershed. They were dancing in the stands by the time we got to the end. They were already performing outside the streets an hour later. In this logic-defying World Cup opener, coaches and players had talked about wanting to unite the English people behind them, and they did just that in spades. Anyone arguing about a victory solely on kick points wasn't there to see this live; the gutsy show and the moving scenes around it. The commotion in England during the lap of honour was amazing. It was an outpouring of joy to see something hopeful at last after so much despair. People had little hope but were left euphoric.

SIR CLIVEWOODWARD: I wrote about Steve Borthwick's ability in the build-up to England's World Cup opener with Argentina on Saturday night, urging them to keep their discipline and keep 15 players on the field. I wanted England's players to have learned their lessons after the summer red cards and suspensions for Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola. After three minutes in Marseille, all that went out the window. I don't blame Tom Curry for his sending off against the Pumas. England's defiance of going down to 14 to get their World Cup campaign off to a winning start against all the odds and in the midst of a poor tournament preparation is eering. The team has received so much flak in the build-up to this World Cup, and rightly so. But they deserved praise for their brave retaliation against Argentina.

Against Argentina tonight, England's most popular rugby streaker has burst out to celebrate the men in white and compel them to 'get the job done.' Erika Roe, 66, has given the Mail a rare glimpse to lift Steve Borthwick's men's spirits ahead of their World Cup opener. When Ms Roe ran topless in a test match between England and Australia in 1982, she stunned the Twickenham crowd. Her pitch invasion came to an end with a Union Flag and a policeman's helmet, and was described as 'probably the most prominent of all streaks'.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Is this an England team that can beat Argentina? Absolutely yes. On Saturday night, there are ten players in the matchday squad against the Pumas in Marseilles, who were involved in the 2019 final loss to South Africa. Maro Itoje and Manu Tuilagi have been waiting for this moment for four years. Now is the time for them to shine and put the wretchedness of the August warm-ups in the rearview mirror. On what is a delectable opening World Cup weekend, England's Pool D opener with Argentina is a great match. England must train discipline and keep cool heads in order to defeat the Pumas. Both Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola red carded in August and so suspended for the Argentina game due to tough tackling.

LUKE AUGUSTUS AT THE O2 ARENA: Ben Youngs is refusing to be caught up in the outside noise surrounding England's Rugby World Cup hopes as he prepares for his fourth attempt to win the sport's pinnacle award. England's Rugby World campaign begins in Marseille on Saturday night as they face Argentina in Pool A (8 p.m.). Borthwick's side has had a traumatic build-up to the tournament, losing three out of their four warm-up matches, losing a number of players to injury, but captain Owen Farrell and sole No 8 Billy Vunipola are both suspended for the start of this month's showpiece in France.

CHRIS FOY: When they first arrived at England's World Cup opener, they should have predicted that this isn't the starting lineup for the team's World Cup opener. So much has changed. So much has happened, with bans that have barred Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola out of contention for this critical Pool D fixture against Argentina. England is struggling without two main figures who would have appeared in their XV on Saturday, so some of the selection procedures carried out by Steve Borthwick has been enforced.

BY CHRIS FOY: Ben Earl, England's top goalkeeper, is becoming known for lavish celebrations during matches, and he will not allow controversy or social media mockery to compel him to stop. The Saracens back-rower has moved from being a fringe figure in the England set-up to being on the brink of playing a key role in Saturday's World Cup opener against Argentina in Marseilles. Earl earned his place in the tournament squad after being selected by head coach Steve Borthwick last month, but he did manage to annoy a number of people in the process. His fiery, fist-pumping reaction to minor victories in a losing cause drew retaliation, but there was still plenty of humour. Any of Earl's myriad responses have sparked curiosity.