Saracens star Billy Vunipola apologises after being tasered and arrested in Majorca
Saracens star Billy Vunipola has apologised “unreservedly” after the England rugby international was reportedly tasered and arrested by Spanish police in Majorca.
Vunipola denied suggestions that he assaulted a police officer in the incident at a bar on the Spanish island but confirmed he had been charged and fined £205 for “resisting the law”.
“I can confirm I was involved in an unfortunate misunderstanding when I was leaving a club in Majorca on Sunday, which got out of hand,” he said.
“Contrary to media reports, there was no violence, no fight and I did not threaten anybody at any stage, with bottles or chairs or anything else.
“I was charged with resisting the law and, following an ‘express trial’, I have paid a fine of 240 euros. The Spanish police investigation is now closed, and I am flying back to the UK today.
“I will obviously cooperate with the Saracens internal process and unreservedly apologise for any inconvenience to all involved.”
Local reports said Vunipola had to be tasered twice at a bar in Palma before he was apprehended by police and was bailed the next day.
A spokesperson for Majorca’s police force was quoted as saying: “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.”
Vunipola has won four Premiership titles and three European Champions Cups with Saracens since joining from Wasps 11 years ago.
The powerful No8 played in Friday’s win over Bath which leaves Sarries second in the English league with two games left before the play-offs.
The 31-year-old, who has won 75 caps for England, is due to leave Saracens for French club Montpellier at the end of this season.
“Saracens is aware of an incident involving Billy Vunipola in Majorca,” they said. “’We will of course deal with this incident internally, and will not make any further comment until then.”