STATEMENT: Mako Vunipola joins new club with immediate effect

Born in New Zealand but raised in Wales and Gloucestershire, the prop was educated at the prestigious Millfield School and made his professional debut for Bristol Rugby before joining Saracens’ Senior Academy in 2011.

Since then he has gone from strength to strength in north London, amassing over 200 appearances, including 50-plus in Europe, and has been an integral part of the club’s success domestically and in Europe.

Vunipola’s explosive carrying, stable scrummaging and fly-half-esque play in the loose has led him to be just as important for England as well as Sarries, with 70 caps for his country. The loosehead made his international bow in 2012 and has since won back-to-back Six Nations titles.

His high-level performances have seen him represent the British & Irish Lions on three tours (Australia 2013, New Zealand 2017, South Africa 2021).

Mako comes from a rich vein of rugby talent. His father and uncle played for Tonga while cousin Taulupe Faletau has been capped by Wales and British & Irish Lions. Brother Billy is a Saracens and England teammate and younger cousin Manu made his senior Sarries debut in the 2018/19 campaign.

After an intensive 10-week training program, Rees-Zammit signed with the Chiefs and is now eyeing a spot on the final 53-man roster. His rise in the sporting world has been meteoric, capturing the attention of fans and media alike.

But it's not just his professional life making headlines. Rees-Zammit's personal life has also been a hot topic, featuring relationships with high-profile personalities, from a Premier League legend's daughter to a famous YouTuber and a notable model/DJ.

In December 2019, before his international debut for Wales, Rees-Zammit posted a photo of himself playing for Gloucester. Alicia Scholes, daughter of football legend Paul Scholes, humorously suggested an England debut was imminent, despite Rees-Zammit’s Welsh roots. He firmly replied, "Wales*".

In a BBC interview, Rees-Zammit spoke about his past relationship with Alicia, a professional netball player for London Pulse. He revealed the light-hearted attempts by her father to sway him towards England, which he steadfastly resisted.

Alicia and her father Paul found themselves in the spotlight in 2021 due to a viral video that led to playful banter among rival supporters.

Following his NFL trial day, Rees-Zammit ended his relationship with influencer Saffron Barker. The couple had gone public after the Rugby World Cup, but their relationship faced challenges with his move to the US.

Saffron addressed the breakup on social media, expressing gratitude for the support from her fans and hinting at a positive future.

She wrote to her fans: "Hi everyone. I have so much exciting news to update you on, and I promise to keep you all posted on that."

"For now though I wanted to address some of the questions re my relationship. Whilst I won't be going into any detail, I am no longer in a relationship. I am fully focused on my well-being, wonderful family, & career," she further commented. Saffron continued in the recent post:

"I want to thank all of the incredible people who have sent me messages of love & strength over the past few weeks. I have read every single one & I can't tell you how much it has meant to me."

Saffron - who has more than two million subscribers on her YouTube channel - concluded by writing: "I know good things come to good people so I hold onto the hope that 2024 is going to be a positive year for me. Lots of love."

Recently single, Rees-Zammit has been spotted with Sports Illustrated model and TikTok sensation Xandra Pohl. The pair were seen enjoying a day out at Worlds of Fun amusement park in Kansas City, sparking rumors of a new romance.

Xandra, a successful DJ who has played at high-profile venues including Ushuaia Ibiza, is set to perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago this summer.

Alongside his new relationship, Rees-Zammit has also been embracing the Kansas City lifestyle, attending Travis Kelce's 'Kelce Jam' festival and sporting a new ear piercing.

As Louis Rees-Zammit continues to make waves both on and off the field, his journey in the NFL is one to watch closely.

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