CHRIS FOY: Billy Vunipola is out of England exile for Australia trip

Eddie Jones added heavyweight clout to England's squad to tour Australia by bringing Billy Vunipola out of exile on Monday — and then claimed the No 8 can reach a new peak after rediscovering his hunger.

The 29-year-old hasn't played for his country since the end of last year's Six Nations, but his 'exceptional' performance in the Premiership final against Leicester on Saturday convinced Jones he is ready for an international comeback on next month's tour.

With Alex Dombrandt joining Sam Simmonds in being ruled out of the three-match series Down Under, the younger Vunipola brother has a prime opportunity to line up against the Wallabies, as the only specialist No 8 selected in the squad.

At first, England's head coach joked about big Billy's appetite, saying: 'I hope he's not too hungry — he can put on weight!' But then Jones offered a serious assessment of how the 61-cap forward had managed to regain the inner drive which had been lost for a while.

'When players have had a lot of success, some are continually hungry for success and can't live without it,' he said. 'Then there are some that sit back a little bit.

'He probably sat back a little bit and sometimes it takes a reminder to get them to sit forward a bit more. He's had that reminder and we're optimistic we'll see the best of him in the Test arena.'

Saracens' relegation from the Premiership in 2020, as punishment for past salary-cap offences, had a negative impact on Billy Vunipola and all of their large England contingent. Jones admitted it took him and the players a while to realise that.

The north London club have been delighted with the thunderous form of the Anglo-Tongan giant at the base of their scrum, during a season when they re-established themselves in