Evening Standard

Vunipola at Saracens to face music for Majorca bar bust-up

- Nick Purewal

BILLY VUNIPOLA was due back at Saracens this morning for crunch talks on how his time in English rugby will end.

The 31-year-old flew home yesterday after being fined 240 euros (£205) and handed a suspended sentence by a Majorcan court. The England No8 was arrested on Sunday morning after an altercatio­n in a bar in Palma and was fast-tracked through the court system yesterday. Vunipola (left) has insisted the matter is closed, but that refers only to the legal ramificati­ons. Now the 75-cap back-rower must sit down with his Saracens bosses, with the club carrying out an internal investigat­ion.

Vunipola was met by Saracens colleagues at Stansted Airport and will now set about securing the chance to end his 11 years at the club on his own terms. He is due to join Montpellie­r this summer.

Vunipola has been a mainstay for both England and Saracens, but now any extended suspension would jeopardise his ability to complete his final season at the club on the field.

Defending champions Saracens face two more regular-season matches and are on course to reach the Premiershi­p play-offs again.

Vunipola will now have everything crossed that Saracens take a reflective view on his overall contributi­on when set alongside this troubling incident that ended with him being Tasered by police.

He may yet find himself in hot water with the RFU, however, which could take any decision out of Saracens’ hands. Should the RFU charge him with bringing the sport into disrepute, Vunipola could yet face a ban that will deny him any further action for his club.

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