FORMER Thornbury RFC player and Castle School student Billy Vunipola has retained his position in the England side to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championships clash at Twickenham on Saturday.

Vunipola has been rewarded for an excellent match against Wales in Cardiff where England grabbed their first victory of the campaign as Harlequins Nick Easter remains on the bench.

The former Tongan number eight took the hot seat from Dursley’s Ben Morgan, who broke his leg playing for Gloucester against Saracens in the Aviva Premiership in January.

National coach Stuart Lancaster said: "It's always good to be able to name an unchanged team and to build some consistency. We did the same last year after France heading into the Scotland game.”

England were able to report a clean bill of health despite a full-blooded encounter at the Millennium Stadium that saw Anthony Watson and Jonathan Joseph cross in each half.

Joseph, who alongside lock George Kruis will be making his first international start at Twickenham, resumes his promising centre partnership outside Luther Burrell with George Ford pulling the strings at fly-half.

Lancaster added: "Italy are going to be fired up, they always are when they come to Twickenham - especially after last week's loss to Ireland."