England rugby star Billy Vunipola reveals what ACTUALLY happened in Majorca bar row – but ‘can’t remember’ being tasered
ENGLAND rugby ace Billy Vunipola has broken his silence and finally revealed what really happened in his Majorca bar bust up.
The sports star, 31, expressed remorse and regret over losing control on a night out on Sunday and even admitted to having no memory of being tasered.
The England and Saracens No. 8 was fined £205 and handed a suspended four-month prison sentence in an “express trial” for resisting the law and a minor crime of wounding an officer.
He was alleged to have threatened customers and staff at Epic bar in the island’s capital, Palma, and to have thrown bottles and bar stools.
Locals say he was seen drinking several shots of alcohol as he danced topless before a row with several locals and fellow tourists.
Vunipola has now finally spoken about what was going through his head on the night of the fiasco.
I guess I was lucky I had a bit more belly because I didn’t feel [the Taser] as much
Billy Vunipola
He claims the drinks made his memory hazy and he still can’t recall being asked to leave the bar at any point.
He told Mail Sport: “I don’t remember that and I don’t remember getting tasered.
“I think I was going to walk out towards the door and as I walked towards the door, something hit me from the back.”
It is unclear if he is talking about the cops who swooped in to arrest him or something else.
Shocking CCTV obtained by The Sun showed nine cops tackling the rugby player in the bar after they blasted him twice with a 50,000-volt Taser.
Vunipola sensationally claimed the powerful bolts had hardly any affect on him the first time around.
Police said the Taser initially didn’t discharge properly because it struck Vunipola’s wallet.
The sports star said today: “I’ve got two marks on me.
“Someone told me, ‘Those with more muscle get more affected by it (Taser) than those with a little bit more bedding’.”
He added: “I guess I was lucky I had a bit more belly because I didn’t feel it as much!
“Even when I was on the ground, they were shocked that I still had the energy to fight them – well, not fight them, resist them, which is what I got done for.”
It’s disappointing that I let what happened happen, by drinking too much. I am very sorry
Billy Vunipola
His club side, Saracens Rugby Club, released a statement on Wednesday declaring Vunipola will “face no further action” for his Majorca bar bust up.
But they did condemn the 20-stone, 6ft 2in rugby star’s behaviour and warned him about his future conduct.
Vunipola also apologised to everyone he had “caused a huge amount of embarrassment” for – including Saracens and his team mates.
He said: “It’s disappointing that I let what happened happen
by drinking too much. I am very sorry!”
Official Saracens statement in full
Saracens can confirm that after an internal investigation, Billy Vunipola will face no further action from the club.
We condemn the behaviour and have warned Billy about his future conduct.
We now look forward to the remainder of the Gallagher Premiership season, and consider this case closed.
BILLY’S WILD NIGHT
Vunipola and his pals spent the night hitting a series of bars in the Spanish holiday isle.
Locals say he spent £100 in a few hours on drinks and downed four amarettos shortly before dancing with his top off.
Bar owners say he refused to put it back on for 20 minutes.
He was said to have been bumping into some of the other 60 revellers and refusing to stop, leading staff to called cops.
One of the Epic co-owners Toni Rocha said the rugby player caused problems after arriving at the bar just before 3am on Sunday.
He is said to have “become worse” when he saw police officers arrive on scene.
Toni said: “I heard him insult police and say ‘f***ing 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.
“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.”
He was later arrested at 4.30am.
The World Cup star – who has played for England 75 times – was then taken to hospital and strapped to a bed with tape as he was sedated.
Billy Vunipola's career
BILLY VUNIPOLA was born to Tongan parents in Australia in 1992 and moved to Wales aged six after his dad signed with Pontypool RFC.
He played for New Panteg RFC and Thornbury RFC as a youngster before landing a scholarship to the prestigious Harrow School.
His impressive displays for Harrow saw him picked up by Rugby Union giants Wasps.
He made his first-team debut in the 2011-12 season and made a further 29 appearances before leaving the club at the end of the following season.
Vunipola was snapped up by his current club Saracens, whom he’s won a slew of silverware with, in January 2013.
The 31-year-old has won three European Rugby Champions Cups and four Premiership titles with Sarries.
The fan favourite has scored 145 points in 178 appearances for Mark McCall’s side.
Vunipola has been a mainstay of England squads for the last 11 years, making 75 appearances for the Red Roses.
He made his England debut in their 2013 tour of South America, coming off the bench to score in a 32–3 win over Argentina.
Vunipola has tasted Six Nations glory three times with England and the bitter pain of World Cup final heartache in 2019.
