THORNBURY-BASED rugby star Mako Vunipola says his main aim this year is to play in the IRB Junior World Championship.
The Bristol Academy prop was last week named in the England under-20s Elite Playing Squad for the RBS U20s Six Nations, which starts on Friday, February 5.
England won the Six Nations last season and reached the final of the Junior World Championship in Japan where they lost to New Zealand and Vunipola has set his sights on travelling with the squad for the big tournament in Argentina in the summer.
With first team experience at Championship league leaders Bristol now behind him, he is confident he can make the step up from the under-18 squad, where he played with his younger brother Billy last season.
“It will probably be a bit more professional but being at Bristol will help with the professionalism and the training I have to do.
“Hopefully I can cope but it will be hard work.
“The first thing I want to do (this year) is get to the World Cup with England then hopefully carry on with Bristol and get more involved.”
Vunipola, who only turned 19 last week, is training full-time with the first team squad at the Memorial Stadium while completing a part-time course at Bristol University and is relishing his chance to make it as a professional rugby player.
He made his Bristol debut last November when he came off the bench against Neath in the British and Irish Cup, and a week later he made his first start in the same competition at Munster A.
“It was different to what I was used to, playing against grown men, but it was good to play at a higher standard,” he said.
“It is good to be involved with the first team.
“We’ve got good coaching staff, especially John Brain, who is one of the best in England.”
Vunipola comes from a strong rugby background as his dad Fe’ao played in three World Cups for Tonga, while Billy is currently in the Academy at Premiership giants London Wasps.
Last summer he toured South Africa with his brother as part of the England development squad and he enjoyed the experience.
“It was a good experience and good to play a big Southern Hemisphere team,” he said.
“It was a bit more competitive and a higher standard but it was a good experience for the forwards especially because they were strong up front.”
Vunipola’s only tour before that was Argentina, where he hopes to return with England U20s later this year.
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