England rugby star Billy Vunipola arrested after violent incident at pub in Majorca with eight police officers and two shots of a taser needed to subdue 20-stone athlete after he ‘threatened customers and staff with bottles and chairs’
- Police rushed to the Epic bar in the Mallorcan capital Palma after the incident
- According to reports, Vunipola had taken off his shirt and threatened customers
- The police needed two shots with taser tension to overpower the Saracens player
England rugby international Billy Vunipola has been arrested following a violent incident in a pub in Mallorca.
The 31-year-old had to be tasered twice after police rushed to a bar called Epic in the island capital Palma at 4.30am following calls from security staff.
Local reports said the sportsman, who was born in Australia to Tongan parents and moved to Britain with his family as a young child, took off his shirt and threatened customers and employees with bottles and chairs.
The 6ft tall professional, who weighs almost 20 stone, is said to have been unaffected by the first taser volts police used on him after he cleared the bar so they could try to resolve the situation.
They overpowered and handcuffed him after using a Taser a second time after Vunipola allegedly challenged the officers and tensed his muscles.
England rugby international Billy Vunipola has been arrested following a violent incident at a Mallorca pub in which police tasered him twice – photo shows his arrival at Palma court
Police stormed the Epic bar in Palma to subdue Vunipola using two taser rounds
Vunipola has made 75 appearances for the England rugby team over the past eleven years
Vunipola, a rugby union number eight for Saracens in Premiership Rugby, was taken to nearby Son Espases Hospital after being detained where he had to be sedated and strapped to his bed.
Until the medication took effect, several guards and police officers had to watch over him.
He was produced in court on Sunday, wearing the same blue T-shirt and beige shorts in which he was arrested, after the incident in the early hours.
His whereabouts today are unclear, but he has reportedly been released on bail pending an ongoing investigation.
Police and court officials have not yet made any official comment. The bar where Vunipola was tasered was closed early this morning.
The rugby player spent his childhood in Wales and the South West of England after emigrating to Britain.
Vunipola seen during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between England and South Africa at Stade de France on October 21, 2023 in Paris
Vunipola during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Sale Sharks and Saracens at AJ Bell Stadium on December 22, 2023 in Salford
Vunipola was seen playing for Saracens in their Premiership Rugby match against Bath on Friday
He won a scholarship to attend the prestigious Harrow School and while there he was picked by the Wasps Academy, where he made his senior debut at the age of 18.
Vunipola made thirty appearances in two seasons before signing for current club Saracens.
He made his debut for England during the 2013 Summer Tour of Argentina. Since then he has collected almost 80 caps.
His father and uncle both played for Tonga. His cousin Taupe Faletau is covered by Wales and British and Irish Lions.
Speaking earlier about 2019, the year England were defeated by South Africa in the World Cup final, he said: “I was very ahead of myself then.”
‘We had just won the double with Saracens. I had played very well in the semi-final and final and knew I would be playing in the England team (at the World Cup in Japan).
Vunipola apologized for his immature behavior ahead of the 2019 World Cup in Japan
Vunipola suffered a knee injury with Saracens during the Heineken Champions Cup last year
‘I had a chat with Steve about rugby after training when we were in Treviso. I said a few things that were inconsistent. I said some things that should never have been said that way to Steve, but also in front of other people.
“We’d had conversations about my rugby back in January and it’s important to say that I don’t believe it had anything to do with me not playing in the Six Nations.
‘But I felt it was important to address the issue and apologize to Steve now that he has matured a bit. I just wanted to let him know that I’m sorry, because I am.
‘He should never have been in that situation where I made him feel like I was condescending to him. Especially as an elder, not just the coach, but someone older than me. What I did to Steve was very disrespectful.”