Doubts, trophies & Tonga - Vunipola's fresh start

Doubts, trophies & Tonga - Vunipola's fresh startImage source, InphoImage caption, Billy Vunipola can win his first trophy with Montpellier in Friday's Challenge Cup final against UlsterByAndy GrayBBC Sport NI JournalistPublished4 minutes agoIt's the week of a European final and Billy Vunipola is facing the media. Instead of the usual stock answers that come from many athletes before big games, full of the usual tropes and cliches, the Montpellier back row takes a second before responding to questions. Not just once, but on a host of topics, ranging from eligibility, ruling out a switch to Tonga, proving himself in France and on his most immediate focus - Friday's Challenge Cup final against Ulster.The former England number eight made the move to the Top14 in 2024 after his long, trophy-laden association with Saracens came to an end. But this was far from a payday to see him off into the sunset of his career.The 33-year-old said he had the "same mindset" joining Montpellier as an established international in 2024, as he did when he made the switch from Wasps to Saracens as an up-and-coming 21-year-old in 2013. "I had to prove myself to every single person in the changing rooms that I wasn't here for a pay cheque," he said."I wasn't here to pack up my bags and enjoy the last few years of my career. "It was the same noises when I left Wasps to go to Saracens. I had to knuckle down and prove to them that I was there for rugby." Youthful Ulster 'would love to be part of history'Published23 hours agoRemembering Scott HastingsAttributionSoundsBut those doubts weren't just external, he also had to prove it to himself."I always knew that no matter what I could say to them, the only way I could prove that I was here for the right reasons was to show them. "There was those doubts in my mind and I had to prove to myself almost that I can still do this. "It was great to have a cha...