By D.Re.
Published 33 minutes ago, Updated now
Billy Vunipola against Fiji in the 2023 World Cup. Norbert Scanella / Norbert Scanella / Panoramic
The third row of the Xv de la Rose (75 caps) would have signed up for two seasons with the MHR.
The exodus of English stars to the French championship continues. After Owen Farrell (32 years old, 112 caps) at Racing 92, Manu Tuilagi (32 years old, 60 caps) at Aviron Bayonnais, Midi Olympique announces this Thursday that Billy Vunipola (31 years old, 75 caps), at the end of his contract with Saracens, will join the MHR.
According to the specialized newspaper, the English player would have agreed to make a salary effort and would have agreed, Wednesday evening, to sign up for two seasons.
So many players who are no longer selectable for the XV de la Rose according to the RFU rule which prohibits the calling of “expatriates”. A principle that the former England captain, who will join Brive next season, criticized on Wednesday during a press conference. “They should change this rule because the players who go to France improve there. And we are losing these talents to England. (…) If your best players play abroad, you are only harming yourself. We are wasting these talents.”
