Saracens Forward Billy Vunipola Arrested and Tasered by Police in Majorca

Billy Vunipola, the Saracens and England forward, was arrested and Tasered by police in Palma, Majorca on Sunday. The 31-year-old was involved in an incident at a bar in the early hours of the morning, where he was accused of assaulting a police officer during a confrontation.

Vunipola was taken to the hospital and later given a four-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 240 euros (£205) at a trial later that day. He was also ordered to pay 500 euros (£427) in compensation to the person he injured. The rugby star pleaded guilty to resisting the law and a minor crime of wounding.

Following the incident, Vunipola released an apology, stating that there was "no violence or threat involved" and that it was an "unfortunate misunderstanding" when he was leaving a club. However, the co-owner of the bar where the incident occurred disputed Vunipola's account, claiming that he refused to leave the bar and was too drunk.

Saracens launched an internal investigation into the matter but have decided to take no further action against Vunipola. The club issued a warning to the player about his future conduct. Vunipola is expected to return to training with his teammates at the club's facility today as Saracens shifts focus towards their upcoming matches and campaign to retain the Gallagher Premiership title.

While Saracens consider the Majorca incident resolved, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) is now investigating and will decide whether to take any further disciplinary action against Vunipola. The RFU is considering whether to charge Vunipola with bringing the game into disrepute under their disciplinary rules and will make their decision once Saracens have shared the findings of their internal investigation.

Why this matters: The arrest of a high-profile rugby player like Billy Vunipola raises concerns about player conduct and the potential impact on the sport's reputation. As a key figure for both Saracens and the England national team, Vunipola's actions have drawn significant attention and scrutiny from the rugby community and beyond.

Despite the arrest and disciplinary concerns, Vunipola will be available for Saracens' remaining Premiership fixtures as the club aims to defend their title. His teammate Maro Itoje has also been cleared to continue playing after facing a separate disciplinary hearing. Vunipola, who has won 75 England caps, is expected to leave Saracens at the end of the season to join French side Montpellier.

Key Takeaways

• Billy Vunipola arrested and Tasered by police in Mallorca for assaulting an officer.
• Vunipola received a suspended sentence, fine, and compensation order for the incident.
• Saracens conducted an internal investigation but took no further action against Vunipola.
• RFU is investigating whether to charge Vunipola with bringing the game into disrepute.
• Vunipola expected to continue playing for Saracens and leave the club at season's end.