Brendan Gallagher

Brendan Gallagher: Sorry, Mako Vunipola, but you can’t play for Tonga

The rumbustious heart on his sleeve, no-nonsense Mako Vunipola has always been a favourite player of mine since I first saw him play for Millfield School…but I’m really not ok with his stated intention of trying to play for Tonga at RWC2027 following his return to Leicester Tigers next season for a final swansong Premiership campaign.

by
Brendan Gallagher
12 April 2026

The rumbustious heart on his sleeve, no-nonsense Mako Vunipola has always been a favourite player of mine since I first saw him play for Millfield School...but I’m really not ok with his stated intention of trying to play for Tonga at RWC2027 following his return to Leicester Tigers next season for a final swansong Premiership campaign.

I hate being the party pooper and killjoy here, but it’s not what the heritage player regulation was designed for. And everybody knows it.
The changes were clearly drawn up to enable mainly Pacific island players or Pacific island heritage players who won a ...

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