Billy Vunipola, a former England No.8, is reflecting on the impact of his former coach, Mark McCall, as Saracens prepare for their final match under McCall's leadership. Vunipola, who joined Saracens in 2013, credits McCall for his personal and professional growth, attributing the team's success to McCall's influence and rugby knowledge.
In a recent interview, Vunipola expressed his gratitude for McCall's mentorship, stating, 'Everything that happened with Saracens, I don't think would have happened if it wasn't for him and his influence on the team and the amount of knowledge that he has for rugby.'
McCall, a former Ireland international, played a pivotal role in Vunipola's development, challenging him to be better and pushing him to question his own abilities. Vunipola acknowledges that McCall's honesty and directness were instrumental in his growth as a player and a person.
'He just challenged me every day to be better,' Vunipola said. 'That helped me to be more driven in searching for ways to be better and to essentially grow into the player that I could have been.'
Vunipola's appreciation for McCall's guidance is evident in his message to the coach upon hearing the news of his departure. While he declined to share the specifics of his message, Vunipola emphasized the profound impact McCall had on his life and career.
'I actually sent him a message when the news came out,' Vunipola revealed. 'I won’t say what I said to him, but for a young player to have been recruited by 'Smally', he had a massive influence on me as a person, and he changed my mindset because I thought that I was good.'
As Saracens look to the future without McCall at the helm, Vunipola's words serve as a testament to the coach's legacy and the lasting impact he has had on the team and its players.
