England Rugby Star Billy Vunipola Arrested After Alleged Violent Incident, Tasered by Police

England rugby star Billy Vunipola was arrested and tasered by police after an alleged violent incident over the weekend, according to reports.

The 30-year-old number eight, who has earned 68 caps for England since his debut in 2013, was allegedly involved in an altercation outside a nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning. Police were called to the scene and had to use a taser to subdue and arrest Vunipola.

“Police were called to reports of a disturbance outside a nightclub on High Street at approximately 1:30am on Sunday,” a police spokesperson said. “A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and resisting arrest. A taser was deployed during the arrest. He remains in police custody.”

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Vunipola’s club Saracens both released brief statements acknowledging they are aware of the incident and arrest.

“We are aware of an incident involving Billy Vunipola and are liaising with him and the police to establish the facts,” an RFU spokesperson said.

Vunipola, the son of former Tonga captain Fe’ao Vunipola, has been a key player for England for the past decade. The powerful back rower started the 2019 World Cup final and has won four Six Nations titles, including a Grand Slam in 2016.

However, his career has also been marred by several controversies. In 2019, Vunipola was warned by the RFU for a homophobic Instagram post in which he voiced support for Australia’s Israel Folau. He also received formal warnings from the RFU in 2017 and 2018 relating to conduct issues.

This latest alleged incident comes at an inopportune time, with England set to announce their squad next week for the summer tour of Australia. Vunipola, if fit and in form, would be a likely starter in the test series. But this arrest could see him dropped by England coach Eddie Jones, who has previously emphasized the importance of discipline and good behavior by his players.

The full circumstances of the alleged altercation are still unclear at this stage. More details are likely to emerge in the coming days as the police investigation continues. Vunipola’s participation in the England tour, and his international future, may hinge on the outcome. For now, the rugby world will be closely following this developing story about one of the game’s biggest stars.