Image caption, Mako Vunipola made his Leicester Tigers debut in their Prem Cup defeat by Harlequins last week
ByAndrew Aloia, BBC Sport, East Midlands and Charlie Slater, BBC East Midlands Today- Published23 minutes ago
Former England prop Mako Vunipola says he was planning to retire before a phone call from from Leicester Tigers head coach Geoff Parling changed his mind.
The 35-year-old ex-Saracens front-rower, who won four Premiership titles and and the European Champions Cup three times with the London club, has moved back to England's top flight after two years in France with Vannes to play under former international team-mate Parling.
The pair featured for England together more than a decade ago and were also part of the British and Irish Lions team that toured Australia in 2013.
Vunipola said it was "pretty random" how he was convinced to make a U-turn on his decision to hang up his boots and join a Leicester side that Parling guided to the Prem semi-finals in his first season at the helm.
"I was pretty set on retiring last year, finishing my time in France," Vunipola told BBC East Midlands Today.
"Then in January I had a conversation with Geoff, he rang me and we spoke about this season and he asked me the question if I'd like to come and see if I can add value here at Leicester.
"The conversation I had with Geoff were really positive, and not just myself but for my family as well. My wife was a big part of the decision to come back to England
"Having these conversations with Geoff, we both felt really good about the club he is building here and obviously I knew Leicester had such a good history anyway."
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Parling said Vunipola not only adds vast experience to the Tigers, but also a calming voice to a pack that lost Wales loose-head prop Niki Smith to Sale Sharks and back row Hanro Liebenberg, who decided to return to South Africa with the Bulls.
With decorated front rower Vunipola now committed to playing beyond his 36th birthday, Parling says managing the physical demands put on the summer's high-profile recruit will be vital.
"Am I going to expect him to play six games on the trot, no. And he knows that," Parling said.
"But when he's in, he rips in and he has been brilliant so far - he is working hard and he has been a positive influence."
Vunipola says the job he has at Tigers, and the way he intends to distinguish himself as a leader with the East Midlands club, is to "be as good as I can be".
"I can do all the talking I want off the field, but I have to make sure I play well and add value on the field to help this team," Vunipola said.
And as he prepares for his first Prem campaign in two years, he was asked if his return to the English game might also lead to him rethinking his place in the international arena.
Before he left for France he retired from England duties, but could that door be opened again to add to the 79 caps he won between 2012 and 2023?
"I got way too much work to do before I get anywhere near that," Vunipola said with a smile.
"I just have to be here and be a player for Leicester first and foremost. But no, nothing of that sort is in my mind.
"And if they get to that point where they are calling me, there must be something wrong going on."
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