32-year-old bows out three weeks before Six Nations beginsCarling questions reasons behind Owen Farrell’s England hiatus
The England prop Mako Vunipola has announced his retirement from international rugby three weeks out from the start of the Six Nations with Steve Borthwick already facing severely depleted options on the loosehead side of the front row.
The Saracens forward, who has won 79 caps for England and played nine times for the British and Irish Lions, will continue to play club rugby but said “the time has come to step away” from the international setup on Friday.