Vunipola breaks silence on ‘unfortunate misunderstanding’ after tasering and arrest
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Billy Vunipola, a prominent rugby player from England, claimed that he was a casualty of a regrettable misinterpretation following his detainment and tasing by law enforcement at a pub in Mallorca.
The police took hold of a Saracens player at Epic bar located on the waterfront of Palma at 4:30am on Sunday.
According to a statement from the police reported in Spanish media, the 20-stone back row who stood at 6ft 2in, aggressively shoved and hit officers who later had to resort to using tasers and handcuffs to restrain and transport him to a nearby hospital.
On Monday, the individual who is 31 years of age released a statement in which they apologized "for any trouble" caused. However, they refuted any allegations of using force.
He stated that he was a part of a regrettable situation that occurred on Sunday while he was exiting a club in Mallorca, and it escalated into a chaotic event.
Despite what the media said, there was no physical altercation or argument and I didn't intimidate anyone with objects like chairs or bottles. My offense was resisting the law and, after a quick trial, I ended up paying a financial penalty of 240 euros (£205).
The examination by the police in Spain has ended, and I am returning to the United Kingdom today. I will happily work together with the internal procedures of Saracens and sincerely express regret for any difficulty caused to those affected.
Vunipola has had a prosperous international career of 10 years and was able to attain 75 England caps. Unfortunately, he has not been selected for the 2024 Six Nations after his last appearance in 2023. It is now anticipated that Vunipola may say farewell to Saracens and join Montpellier, a French side. By doing so, this decision would consequently mark an end to his England career.
Vunipola participated as a member of Saracens in a match against Bath on Friday evening prior to taking a vacation. The club isn't competing in the European semi-finals this weekend.
While there is no official confirmation that Vunipola was consuming alcohol during the incident, it is worth noting that he has faced similar issues before. In fact, during the 2019 Six Nations, he failed to stick to curfew after spending a night out with fellow former England centre Ben Te'o at their team hotel.
In November 2018, Vunipola revealed to The Times that he had halted his drinking habits after having a profound conversation with his family members, including his brother Mako, during the summer. He recounted receiving a stern lecture from his parents and brother, which ultimately succeeded in persuading him to stop drinking altogether.
As of now, Saracens are in second place in the Gallagher Premiership and are on the hunt for their sixth league title in the past ten seasons. With only two rounds of regular season games remaining before the play-offs, the team is gearing up for a final push towards their goal.
