Footage emerges of moment England rugby star Billy Vunipola laughs as police try to taser him in Majorca bar
29/04/2024 14:31
England rugby star Billy Vunipola has issued an apology after being arrested and fined over an incident at a bar in Majorca.
The 31-year-old was tasered twice by police following calls from security staff to attend a disturbance at late-night joint Epic in Palma on Sunday at 4:30am.
According to Spanish police, Vunipola had taken off his shirt and was threatening customers and employees with bottles and chairs before attempting to assault officers who had been called to the bar.
Footage has emerged of the moment a topless Vunipola was confronted by police, seemingly laughing as he was about to be tasered.
The first taser had no effect on the 6ft 2in and 20 stone Saracens player, and he was only knocked to the ground when police fired at him for a second time.
Vunipola was then led away by officers to a nearby station, where he was pictured in handcuffs.
In a statement issued through his club Saracens, Vunipola said he had been charged with resisting the law and fined 240 euros (£205) following an “express trial”.
He described the incident as an “unfortunate misunderstanding” which had “got out of hand”.
Vunipola said: "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.
"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."
His club said: “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.”
A spokesman for the National Police in Majorca said: "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."
Vunipola was born in Australia before his family moved to Wales when he was a child.
He was given a scholarship to the prestigious Harrow School and there he was signed to the Wasps Academy.
He made his England debut in 2013 and has played 75 times for his country. However, he was not selected for the 2024 Six Nations.
Vunipola made an appearance as a second-half substitute for Saracens in their 15-12 victory over Bath on Friday night.
The club are not scheduled to play again until May 11.
Saracens are second in the Gallagher Premiership with just two rounds of regular season games left before the play-offs as they chase a sixth title in 10 seasons.
