Promoted to the Top 14, Vannes pulled off a major coup by signing international pillar Mako Vunipola. In Toulon, it’s an Italian international who arrives: Gianmarco Lucchesi.
Billy and Mako Vunipola, after spending eleven years together under the Saracens jersey, are going their separate ways. But they will still play in the same league. While Billy, the 31-year-old flanker, is going to join Montpellier, Mako, the 33-year-old pillar, has signed with Vannes. Promoted to the Top 14 for the first time in its history, the Breton club has pulled off a major coup by attracting the player with 79 caps for the England team, who retired from international football last January. The Wellington, New Zealand native has signed for two seasons.
He will experience the third club of his career, after spending a year at Bristol (in 2010-11) then experiencing everything with Saracens, from five English championship titles (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023) and two Champions Cups (2016, 2017), to relegation to the second division due to financial problems, with an immediate rise to the key. Mako Vunipola will bring to Vannetais his experience of 192 matches with Saracens (21 tries scored), but also six with the prestigious British Lions.
Lucchesi lands on the harbor
On the Toulon side, it is an Italian international that has been recruited: Gianmarco Lucchesi. The 23-year-old hooker arrives from Benetton Treviso, where he played a total of 49 matches. and has signed for two seasons
“His skills and potential are considerable. His profile will complement that of the players who will share the hooker position with him. He is a determined and ambitious player, who is keen to take up the challenge that is offered to him. We are eager to see him develop under our colours. “, rejoiced RCT sports director Laurent Emmanuelli. The native of Pisa has 22 caps for the Italian team to date. He missed the last World Cup due to a torn cruciate ligament.
