Billy Vunipola: England rugby star issues statement after arrest in Spain - as pictures of incident emerge

29 April 2024, 09:12 | Updated: 29 April 2024, 15:48

England rugby star Billy Vunipola has apologised after an "unfortunate misunderstanding" at a Spanish bar - but denies he was involved in violence after reports said he was tasered following an altercation.

The 31-year-old shared a statement after his club side Saracens said it was investigating reports he had been arrested following an alleged violent incident at a Majorca bar.

Local media reports said Vunipola was tasered twice after arriving at Epic in Palma in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The bar was evacuated during the alleged incident - and the player taken to hospital before being brought before a Palma court on Monday, according to a report by local newspaper Ultima Hora.

Vunipola has since confirmed he has paid a fine of €240 (£205) following an "express trial" after he was charged with "resisting the law".

But a police statement said he was tasered and arrested after he "pushed and slapped an officer".

The forward, who has made 75 appearances for England, said in a statement: "I can confirm I was involved in an unfortunate misunderstanding when I was leaving a club in Mallorca on Sunday, which got out of hand.

"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."

Vunipola added that the Spanish police investigation is now closed and he is flying back to the UK today.

He continued: "I will obviously cooperate with the Saracens internal process and unreservedly apologise for any inconvenience to all involved."

A spokesperson for the National Police in Majorca told Reuters news agency: "In the early hours of yesterday morning, at 4.30am, the National Police proceeded to the arrest of a 31-year-old foreign man, for a crime of disobedience and attacking a police officer...

"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, hitting a projectile in the wallet, which did not 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."

Saracens earlier wrote on X: "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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The player is expected to leave Saracens at the end of this season and has previously been linked with a move to France - although nothing has been confirmed.

He made his Test debut for England against Argentina in 2013 but is not currently part of the England squad.

Vunipola made an appearance as a second-half substitute for Saracens in their 15-12 victory over Bath on Friday night.

The club - currently second in the Gallagher Premiership and chasing a sixth league title in the last 10 seasons - are not scheduled to play again until 11 May.

There are just two rounds of regular season games left before the play-offs.

(c) Sky News 2024: Billy Vunipola: England rugby star issues statement after arrest in Spain - as pictures of incident emerge