England No. 8 Billy Vunipola is set to sign a two-year deal with French Top 14 side Montpellier which will likely bring an end to his 11-year international career, sources have told ESPN.
Vunipola has played 75 Tests for England since making his debut in 2013 and was part of the squad that made the World Cup final in 2019 as well as the side that came third in last year’s tournament in France.
The back-rower plays alongside his brother, Mako, at Saracens, and the pair are expected to leave, the club’s director of rugby Mark McCall said on Wednesday.
“I don’t want to talk without them having completely finalised their plans. It wouldn’t be fair given what they have done for the club but like I said they are coming towards the end of their time with us,” McCall said.
Vunipola, 31, becomes the latest England international to leave the domestic game after fly-half Owen Farrell signed a two-year deal with Racing 92 and Manu Tuilagi set to join Bayonne at the end of the season.
Born in Sydney, Vunipola qualified for England through residency and has been a regular in the side over the past decade. He has won three Six Nations titles including the Grand Slam in 2016.
He has played 178 games for Saracens and 41 for Wasps, winning three European Cups and four Premiership titles.
His brother, Mako, played 79 Tests for England.