Mako Vunipola combines Leicester playing duties with women's coaching role

Mako Vunipola is combining his playing commitments at Leicester Tigers with coaching work for the club's women's team as he prepares for life after his playing career. The 35-year-old former England prop told BBC East Midlands Today that he had raised his interest in coaching when discussing his move to Leicester.

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BBC Sport reported on Friday that Vunipola is working within director of women's rugby Fraser Goatcher's support staff. He has made six playing appearances across competitions this season and says performing for the men's team remains his priority. The coaching work has also challenged his initial expectation that moving from player to coach would be straightforward.

Tigers prop Ellie Smith told the BBC that Vunipola had helped her scrummaging and had become more vocal as he settled into the role. Vunipola, meanwhile, said he hopes to draw on what he learned from coaches including Steve Borthwick, Eddie Jones, Warren Gatland and Andy Farrell while developing his own approach to the job.

The move into coaching follows a change of direction in his playing plans. In an interview reported by BBC Sport in September, Vunipola said he had intended to retire after finishing his spell with French club Vannes. A January phone call from Leicester head coach Geoff Parling persuaded him to reconsider and return to the English game after two years in France.

Parling and Vunipola had previously played together for England and were members of the British and Irish Lions squad that toured Australia in 2013. Vunipola said their discussions about Leicester were positive for both him and his family, with his wife playing an important part in the decision to return. His earlier career at Saracens brought four Premiership titles and three European Champions Cup wins.

Parling said in September that managing Vunipola's workload would be important and that he did not expect the prop to play six consecutive matches. He also described Vunipola as a positive influence within the squad. The arrangement now gives the experienced front-rower two roles at Leicester: continuing to contribute as a player while gaining practical experience of coaching.