Billy Vunipola had been off alcohol for nearly two years before falling off the wagon in Majorca, which led to his drunken encounter with local police, arrest and four-month suspended prison sentence after appearing in court.
The 31-year-old England No 8 is understood to have been in a self-imposed teetotal phase since August, 2022, to fully commit to regaining peak form on the field. He had chosen to abstain after returning from the national team’s tour of Australia that summer, when he had managed to force his way back into the Red Rose line-up and contribute to a 2-1 series victory over the Wallabies.
For the last 20 months, the younger of Saracens’ two Vunipola brothers had banished the booze as he strove to re-establish career momentum. But having dropped off the England radar and become more of a peripheral figure at the club where he was once such a talismanic presence, big Billy’s no-alcohol policy ended in Majorca, with damaging consequences.
One source familiar with the genial giant expressed sadness that he had succumbed to ‘demons’ which tended to reflect times when he was experiencing stress. Mail Sport has learned that there have been occasional binges in the past, including one in the build-up to the World Cup in 2019. But, on the whole, Vunipola has not been known for wild excess and certainly not for being confrontational or aggressive – on the field or off it.
Eye-witnesses have reported that he was in a bar from 3am with one other Saracens player who tried to calm him down and assist staff with attempts to defuse the situation. Mail Sport has been told that Italy prop Marco Riccioni was with him and tried in vain to avert an escalation of the situation.
Billy Vunipola laughs after police tried to Taser him inside a late-night bar in Majorca
The England international has been arrested following an incident in a Majorca bar which saw police taser him twice - picture shows his arrival at court in Palma
England international Vunipola, 31, pictured with his wife Simmone at their wedding in Tonga
Vunipola is due to join French club Montpellier at the end of this season – along with his older brother – Lions prop Mako.
There have been no indications yet that the move has been jeopardised by this episode, with Billy expected to undergo a rigorous medical in the next month before the deal is finalised.
Vunipola was arrested and charged with 'disobeying and assaulting a police officer' in Majorca.
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 on Sunday morning following calls from security staff.
He later hauled in front of a judge, and today confirmed he had paid a €240 (£205) fine. In a statement, Vunipola called the incident an 'unfortunate misunderstanding' and said he was flying back to the UK.
Bar owner Toni Rocha today denied local reports the sportsman had threatened customers and staff with bottles and chairs, but said he had caused problems and confronted police when they arrived.
'Far from calming down when he saw the police he became worse,' Mr Rocha said.
'I heard him insult police and say 'f**king cops' at one point and there was another moment where he had his shirt off and hit an officer in the face with the top in his hand as the officer tried to reason with him.'
Giving a blow-by-blow account of the night's events, Mr Rocha said: 'He arrived just before 3am on Sunday morning with a friend who I believe is also a rugby player.
'I know they'd been drinking in the Santa Catalina neighbourhood before they came here because a waiter who we know who works in a bar there and was in on Saturday night told us.
'It was just Billy and his friend but when they ordered the first round they asked for six Amarettos with orange juice and freshly squeezed lime.
Vunipola had been off alcohol since August 2022 as he aimed to reach peak form on the field
Vunipola dropped off the England radar and become a more of a peripheral figure at Saracens
'I know because I served them. I'm pretty sure they drank them between the two of them, with Billy having four and the friend the other two.
'The friend was fine but Billy started becoming a problem as he became drunker. I had to ask him to put his top on at one point when he took it off while he was at the bar.
'The first time I asked him to put his shirt on he was propping himself up at the bar with his elbows and he was drinking from one of the glasses I'd poured him and had another three drinks in a triangle in front of him.
'He didn't threaten customers or staff with bottles or bar stalls or anything like that but he was annoying other customers by pushing them, not in a violent way, but elbowing them and bothering them.
'He put his shirt on when I asked him to first time round. His friend who was co-operative at all times helped him put it back on. But then he took it off a second time and then a third and we decided to call police.'
Mr Rocha described how the situation soon became 'very tense'.
'I'd already got the doormen involved to try to get him to leave and his friend was assisting us but there was just no way we could get him to abandon the premises,' he said.
'I warned his friend I was going to call police and he said: ''Do what you have to do.'' 'We thought he was going to calm down when he saw uniformed officers arrive but when the first police appeared on the scene he confronted them and they had to call for back-up.
'It was around 4am and we still had more than an hour left before we were supposed to close.
'When the back-up arrived the police told us to clear the bar, put the lights on and cut the music.
'The rugby player reacted by confronting the officers when they went to talk to him and insult them. I heard him saying 'f***ing cops'. He also hit one of them with his shirt in his hand.
'They tried to get him out and couldn't until they tasered him. He laughed the first time they went to Taser him, it was like a film, and I heard the words ''another one'' and the second time round he fell to the ground and the officers immobilised him and put wrist ties on him.'
Police stormed the Epic bar in Palma to subdue Vunipola using two rounds of taser
He added: 'We're considering filing a formal complaint because between the hour or more we had to close at what is normally a really busy time of the night and the drinks that were unpaid for when we had to clear the premises, we've lost more than £2,000.
'He was the only reason we had to clear the premises. The first and second time his friend helped him put his shirt back on and I got security involved after that. My doormen handled the situation very well and the police also.
'It could have turned out very different and ended very badly because we were dealing with a strong man who was very drunk and was acting inappropriately and refusing requests for him to leave.
'We felt things could have got broken or he could have assaulted someone if we tried to force him out.
'I didn't feel frightened, it was more a feeling of impotence that we couldn't get him to abandon the premises. But some clients, especially women clients, were feeling frightened and very uncomfortable.
'I discovered the friend was also a rugby player, a teammate of his I think, when the police were talking to him.
'The police were on the scene very quickly and the ambulance arrived later. He was taken away on a stretcher and he was calm by that point.
'He was talking in English and I think he was asking to be left alone but I couldn't understand very well what he was saying.'
Vunipola is said to have been unaffected by the first taser volt police used on him after clearing the bar so they could try to resolve the situation.
They overpowered him and handcuffed him after using a taser for the second time after Vunipola had reportedly challenged the officers and flexed his muscles.
Vunipola was taken to nearby Son Espases Hospital after being held where he had to be sedated and bound to his bed.
Until the medication took effect several security guards and police officers had to watch over him.
He was taken to court on Sunday, wearing the same blue T-shirt and beige shorts he was arrested in, following the incident in the early hours.
Vunipola seen playing for Saracens in their Premiership Rugby match against Bath on Friday
A spokesman for the National Police in Majorca, in their first formal comment on the arrest, 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.
Vunipola said in a statement on Monday: 'I can confirm I was involved in an unfortunate misunderstanding when I was leaving a club in Majorca 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', 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 co-operate with the Saracens internal process and unreservedly apologise for any inconvenience to all involved.'
A Saracens club statement read: '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.'
Vunipola has played 75 times for the England rugby team over the past 11 years
Vunipola cools off in the ocean during the England recovery session at Coogee Beach in 2016
Vunipola spent his childhood in Wales and the south west of England after emigrating to the UK.
He won a scholarship to attend the prestigious Harrow School and whilst there, was picked by Wasps Academy where he made his senior debut aged 18.
Vunipola featured 30 times in two seasons before signing for current club Saracens.
He made his debut for England on the 2013 Summer Tour of Argentina. He has since amassed nearly 80 caps.
His father and uncle both played for Tonga. His cousin Taupe Faletau has been capped by Wales and British and Irish Lions.
Speaking previously about 2019, the year England were beaten in the World Cup final by South Africa, he said: 'I was very, very ahead of myself back then.
'We had just won the double with Saracens. I had played really well in the semi-final and final and knew I was going to be in the England squad (going to the World Cup in Japan).
'I had a conversation with Steve about rugby after training when we were in Treviso. I said a few things that were out of line. I said some things that never should have been said to Steve in that way, but also in front of other people.
Vunipola walks down the beach to the Atlantic Ocean during the England recovery session held Praia da Falesia on November 2, 2016, in Vilamoura
Vunipola apologised for his immature behaviour ahead of the 2019 World Cup in Japan
Vunipola suffered knee injury with Saracens during the Heineken Champions Cup last year
'We had already had conversations about my rugby in January and it is 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 actually apologise to Steve, having matured a little bit. I just wanted to let him know I was sorry because I am.
'He should never have been in that situation where I've made him feel like I was patronising towards him. Especially as an elder, not just the coach but someone who's older than me. It was very disrespectful what I did to Steve.'
Last year, Vunipola was banned for three matches, suspended for a dangerous high tackle, from the start of the Rugby World Cup.
Vunipola was sent off against Ireland in Dublin, following a bunker review on his high shot on prop Andrew Porter.
Billy Vunipola missed England's first two Rugby World Cup matches after being hit with a ban
Vunipola (left) was punished for his high tackle on Ireland prop Andrew Porter (right)
Facing an independent disciplinary panel, Vunipola admitted that he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card.
World Rugby's mandatory minimum mid-range entry point for foul play resulting in head contact is six weeks but, represented by Richard Smith KC, Vunipola's ban was halved to three.
The verdict stated: 'Having acknowledged mitigating factors including his exemplary previous record, immediate apology and remorse, and noted the absence of any aggravating factors, the committee reduced the six week entry point by three weeks.'
The decision on Vunipola came after Farrell was banned for four matches following an appeal against the controversial ruling which overturned the England captain's red card in the defeat to Wales.
