Saracen’s Billy Vunipola prefers earning more England caps over fame

In response, the Saracens number eight took himself out of the limelight, declining close to six-figure sums to host supporters at England games and observing a self-imposed media blackout.

That paid off when he was recalled for the July tour to Australia and he continues his return against Argentina on Sunday.

‘Sometimes it’s not about money, it’s more about how you want to feel, how you want to present yourself,’ Vunipola said.

‘But I didn’t want to be at Twickenham. There are marquees everywhere and they want to throw cash at you to do appearances. I didn’t want to do it because you say one thing wrong, someone sends it to the press. So I was very careful.

‘Being injured (and missing games) is different to being fit and not being picked.

‘There’s a different feeling, it’s almost envy and you don’t want envy because you want the England team and players to do well. I want to be playing, not sitting with 100 drunk people asking me questions about Eddie.’

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