Saracens prop Mako Vunipola has announced his retirement from international rugby, having won 79 caps for England.
Vunipola, who made his England debut against Fiji in 2012, recorded his final appearance for the side against Ireland last March before suffering a back injury.
That injury kept him out of the Rugby World Cup in France, where Steve Borthwick’s team suffered a heartbreaking semi-final defeat to eventual champions South Africa, Handre Pollard’s late penalty guiding the Springboks into the final.
Vunipola was a key player in the side which reached the 2019 World Cup final, also playing his part in three Six Nations victories in 2015, 2016 and 2020.
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In a message posted to his Instagram account, Vunipola wrote: “It’s been an honour to have represented my country but all good things must come to an end.
“The time has come to step away now. There have been lots of highs and lows. I would love to thank everyone who have helped me along the way.”
Vunipola is currently serving a four-match ban for a dangerous tackle he committed while representing Saracens against Newcastle in December, though he would have been eligible for England’s Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome.
That match takes place on February 3, and Borthwick now faces something of a selection crisis at loosehead prop, with Joe Marler, Ellis Genge and Bevan Rodd all injured.
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