Saracens investigating as England rugby star Billy Vunipola 'tasered and arrested after violent incident'

Saracens investigating as England rugby star Billy Vunipola 'tasered and arrested after violent incident'

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Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 29/04/2024

- 10:07

Updated: 29/04/2024

- 11:38

Reports say the Saracens player was involved in an incident at the weekend

Saracens have confirmed they are investigating reports that Billy Vunipola was arrested following an alleged violent incident at a pub in Majorca.

It is claimed that the 31-year-old was tasered twice by police in the early hours of Sunday morning.


Local reports claim police rushed to a bar called Epic in the island's capital Palma at 4.30am.

It is alleged that the Australian-born star had taken his shirt off and was threatening customers and employees with bottles and chairs.

Billy Vunipola

Saracens are investigating reports that Billy Vunipola has been arrested

Getty

Vunipola is claimed to have been unaffected by the first taser volt used by police and a second had to be fired.

The number eight, who weighs nearly 20 stone, was then overpowered and handcuffed by the officers.

Vunipola was taken to a local hospital, where reports say he had to be sedated and strapped to his bed.

He was kept under guard before pictures and video showed him arriving at court later on Sunday wearing the same blue T-shirt and beige shorts as the previous night.

He has been released on bail pending investigation. A spokesman for the National Police in Majorca said on Monday: "In the early hours of yesterday morning, at 4.30am, we arrested a 31-year-old foreign man on suspicion of a crime of disobedience and assaulting a police officer.

"The events took place in a leisure establishment on the seafront in Palma, when a man was causing altercations inside the establishment.

"The man would not listen to reason and confronted the rest of the customers, and the security staff were unable to restrain him or remove him from the premises.

"The police were alerted and the officers, on seeing the man, who was shirtless and making gestures with his hands, cleared the premises.

"It was then that he confronted the police and attempted to assault the officers.

"The police officers tried at all times to get him to calm down, but the man would not listen to reason.

"At that moment, the man pushed and slapped an officer and a policeman pulled out his electric stun gun and fired a first time although the gun didn't discharge.

"A second projectile was then fired, which did the job, and it was then that the officers jumped on him and proceeded to immobilise him by shackling him, later taking him to Son Espases hospital for assessment and arrest.

"Yesterday afternoon he was taken to court and released on bail pending an ongoing investigation."

His club have also confirmed they are investigating. A statement from Saracens reads: "Saracens is aware of an incident involving Billy Vunipola in Majorca.

"We will of course deal with this incident internally, and will not make any further comment until then."

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Billy Vunipola

Billy Vunipola has not played for England since last year

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Vunipola was born in Sydney to Tongan parents in 1992 before moving to Wales with his family in 1998.

He earned a scholarship to attend Harrow School and joined Wasps in 2011 before moving to Saracens in 2013.

He has won 75 caps for England since making his senior debut in the same year.

Vunipola hasn't played for his country since last year and was not picked for the Six Nations.

He is widely expected to leave Saracens for Montpellier next season which would all but end his hopes of an international recall.

England players who are based abroad are not eligible to play for the national team.

Steve Borthwick and Billy Vunipola

Billy Vunipola apologised to Steve Borthwick following comments he made in 2019

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Vunipola had a falling out with England coach Steve Borthwick during the build-up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Borthwick was assistant coach at the time and Vunipola admitted he was 'out of line' with some comments he made.

He told the Telegraph: "I said some things that never should have been said to Steve in that way, but also in front of other people.

"We had already had conversations about my rugby in January (2023) and it is important to say that I don’t believe it had anything to do with me not playing in the Six Nations.

"But I felt it was important for myself to address the issue and actually apologise to Steve, having matured a little bit.

"I just wanted to let him know that I was sorry, because I am sorry, you know. He should never have been in that situation where I’ve made him feel like I was patronising towards him.

"Especially as an elder, not just the coach but someone who is older than me. It was very disrespectful what I did to Steve."

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