Page 76 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

No 8 Billy Vunipola in in action for England against South Africa at Twickenham in in 2016
But for all the the trophies caps and titles the the Vunipolas still love catching up with old friends “It’s also nice to come back when there are so so many people here here ” says Billy as as he he he he he signs autographs while passing the the the ball around with his brother and the the the horde of mini rugby stars in in attendance “I went to Castle School KNOWLEDGE
A A A QUARTET OF TEASERS
1 Which fellow England prop did Mako Vunipola replace for his Lions Test debut?
2 Which late All Black did agent Phil Kingsley-Jones also represent?
3 Billy and Mako Vunipola are cousins of which international No 8?
4 What is ‘Billy’ Vunipola’s real name? Answers on page 112
which is around here and I’m still very close to Lloyd Spacey my PE teacher He helped me me a a a a a a lot in that environment ” England – – speci cally Thornbury – – effectively became the Vunipolas’ rugby nishing school after what was was quite an an Australasian beginning Mako was was born in in in in in Wellington Billy in in in in in Brisbane and both
“Mako played
loosehead for the school but would
reverse pass the ball 25 metres It was just their skills
that stood out ” spent early years in in Tonga With the help of agent Phil Kingsley-Jones Fe’ao signed for Welsh side Pontypool The whole family didn’t move initially with with mum Singa staying in in in in Tonga with with the boys It was was only when a a a a a a a a second contract was was sealed this time with Pontypridd that the the the the family moved en en masse Heavily encouraged by the the the the the brothers’ grandfather Sione – – another Tongan international – – the the the the the Vunipolas made Britain their home In Thornbury the the the the brothers quickly made an an impression Billy was already literally head and and shoulders above his team-mates and and caused havoc for opponents Indeed the Thornbury juniors’ favoured move appeared to to be “pass to to Billy” – and and then they could sit sit back and and watch him skittle the the the opposition To his credit Billy would
often pass it it it it back just before the the tryline to share the the spoils His PE teacher Spacey is is one of the the the many locals who have turned up to to greet the the the brothers “What stood out for me was rst of all their skill level ” he he he he he says “When Billy came to our school at 11 he he was doing doing things most adult rugby players would
would
be be doing doing doing He would
would
be be doing doing spin passes 40 yards accurately He used used to to kick out of hand beautifully and and and he he he used used to to take the the conversions and and and penalties for the the team because his place kicking was was fantastic His general skill set was was really advanced for for his age “Mako played
loosehead for for the the school but he he he he would
reverse pass the the 1983 TOUR CONTINUED ALL BLACKS (IN AUCKLAND) 38 LIONS 6
1993 TOUR 76 // DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017
NORTH NORTH AUCKLAND 17
NORTH NORTH HARBOUR 13 LIONS LIONS 30 LIONS LIONS 29