England rugby star Billy Vunipola has "unreservedly" apologised after he was Tasered and arrested on the Spanish island of Majorca following an incident at a nightclub.
Pictures show the 31-year-old being Tasered after police rushed to a bar called Epic in the island capital Palma following calls from security staff.
Local reports said the sportsman, who was born in Australia to Tongan parents and moved to the UK with his family as a young child, had taken off his shirt and was threatening customers and employees with bottles and chairs.
The 6ft 2in tall professional, who weighs nearly 20 stone, was Tasered by police who cleared the bar so they could try to resolve the situation.
Vunipola, in a statement released on Monday, denied being violent or threatening, and said he had been involved in an “unfortunate misunderstanding” while leaving the nightspot charged with resisting the law and, following an “express trial”, paid a fine of 240 euros. Eight officers overpowered him and handcuffed him after twice using a Taser, according to reports. Police said the first time the Taser was fired it did not discharge properly so officers fired a second time, before subduing the star.
Vunipola, a rugby-union Number 8 for Saracens in Premiership Rugby, was taken to nearby Son Espases Hospital after being held where he had to be sedated and bound to his bed, it was reported.
Until the medication took effect several security guards and police officers had to watch over him, it was reported.
He was taken to court on Sunday, wearing the same blue T-shirt and beige shorts he was arrested in, following the early hours incident.
In his statement 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.”
Police sources confirmed on Monday that Vunipola had been arrested after being Tasered.
He was held around 4.30am on Sunday morning.
The source said: “He was taken to hospital following his arrest before being handed over to the courts later in the day.”
Court officials have not yet made any official comment. The bar where Vunipola was Tasered was closed early on Monday morning.
Saracens said in a statement issued on Monday morning: “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. “Yesterday afternoon he was taken to court and released on bail pending an ongoing investigation.”
The rugby player 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.
He 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.
The Standard has contacted Vunipola’s agent for comment.