Mako Vunipola
England
player portrait
Full name Makovina Wanangarua I Whanga Nui-Atara Vunipola
Born January 14, 1991, Wellington
Current age 33 years 65 days
Major teams British and Irish Lions, England Under-20s, Saracens, England
Position Prop
Height 6 ft 0 in
Weight 266 lb
Relations Father - FML Vunipola, Brother - VML Vunipola

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 2012-2021 76 41 35 10 2 0 0 0 54 21 1 71.71
England 2012-2021 67 36 31 10 2 0 0 0 50 17 0 74.62
British and Irish Lions 2013-2021 9 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 1 50
Five/Six Nations 2013-2021 36 17 19 5 1 0 0 0 27 9 0 75
IRB Rugby World Cup 2015-2019 8 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 3 0 62.5

Career statistics
Test debut England v Fiji at Twickenham, Nov 10, 2012 match details
Last Test South Africa v British and Irish Lions at Cape Town, Aug 7, 2021 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list

English Premiership
Team Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All matches 2011-2021 115 90 25 85 17 0 0 0 94 19 2 82.6
Saracens 2011-2021 115 90 25 85 17 0 0 0 94 19 2 82.6
Profile

Mako Vunipola is set for a bright future in the game both for club side Saracens and England.

He starred for England's age group sides, winning Grand Slams at U18 and U20 levels and appearing in the 2011 Junior World Championship final against New Zealand, before making his senior bow against Fiji in 2012.

His father Fe'ao captained Tonga and appeared at the 1995 and 1999 World Cups, moving with his family to Wales in 1998 to play for Pontypool.

Mako was educated in Newport, at Castle School, Bristol and at Millfield in Street. He made 33 appearances for Bristol before the switch to Saracens. His younger brother Billy, 19, made his name as a back row forward for London Wasps and the two played together for England at U18 level and Billy will join his older brother at Saracens for the 2013-14 season.

After impressing for Saracens Stuart Lancaster had no hesitation in handing Vunipola an England debut in the first autumn Test of 2012 against Fiji. He added three more caps off the bench before the end of 2012 and was on the field at the final whistle when England became the first team to defeat New Zealand since their World Cup win over a year earlier.

The Wellington-born player came off the bench for England's first three matches of the Six Nations before he made his first start against Italy. He was back on the bench for the deciding match against Wales and while he came off the bench it wasn't a happy day as Wales ended England's grand slam hopes with a 30-3 win.

Further impressive performances as Saracens reached the Heineken Cup semi-finals kept him in Warren Gatland's thoughts and he was duly rewarded with a place in the Lions squad for their three-Test tour to Australia.

His awesome form, and a few injuries, led Vunipola to play an important role for the Lions. He came off the bench in the first test against the Wallabies but struggled in the scrum in the second test after starting the game. He returned to the bench for the final test as the Lions wrapped up a series victory.

Latest Articles
Mako Vunipola: Rugby World Cup preparations 'like torture' (Aug 12, 2015) Mako Vunipola: Gut-wrenching losses last May are motivating Saracens (May 22, 2015) Vunipola brothers sign new Saracens deals (Apr 29, 2015) England injury problems part of 'cycle' (Oct 27, 2014) England without Cole and Vunipola for autumn series (Aug 28, 2014) Mako Vunipola news and articles (40) »
Latest Photos
Apr 5, 2015
Saracens' Mako Vunipola charges forward against Racing Metro
Saracens' Mako Vunipola charges forward against Racing Metro
©  Getty Images
Dec 20, 2014
Saracens' Mako Vunipola dots the ball down
Saracens' Mako Vunipola dots the ball down
©  Getty Images
May 3, 2014
Mako Vunipola of Saracens leaves the field with a bloody nose
Mako Vunipola of Saracens leaves the field with a bloody nose
©  Getty Images
Mar 29, 2014
Mako Vunipola is tackled hard
Mako Vunipola is tackled hard
©  Getty Images
Mako Vunipola rugby photos (29) »

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