Mako Vunipola set to return for Saracens’ Challenge Cup clash with Toulon

Mako Vunipola is set to give Saracens a major European Challenge Cup boost by returning for Saturday’s semi-final against Toulon.

The England prop has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during Saracens’ victory over Gallagher Premiership title rivals Leicester almost 10 weeks ago.

But Saracens rugby director Mark McCall has confirmed that Vunipola, who has been overlooked by England boss Eddie Jones this season, is fit for the last-four clash at Stade Felix-Mayol.

“Mako is available for selection this week,” McCall said.

“Mako has been a very important member of the group all season, to be honest. I could not be more impressed with his overall contribution.

“We made him captain during the period of the Six Nations, and he did a phenomenal job.

“It was wonderful that he wanted to go to Kingsholm (for last Friday’s quarter-final against Gloucester) and support his team-mates, even though he wasn’t playing.”

Saracens will be without wing Sean Maitland due to a minor hamstring issue as they face a first European semi-final since September 2020.

On that occasion it was Heineken Champions Cup opponents Racing 92, before Saracens took their place in the second-tier English Championship after being relegated from the Premiership for repeated salary cap breaches.

Even though it is the Challenge Cup, rather than Champions Cup, McCall’s men have relished being back on a European stage.

They were European champions in 2016, 2017 and 2019, although previous Challenge Cup campaigns produced three semi-final losses – two against Bath, and one to Northampton.

I still think there is more in us, and we have got to back that up this weekend- Saracens rugby director Mark McCall

“Just to be playing knockout rugby in front of