D-day for Vunipola
Saracens to decide punishment for Majorca taser mayhem... and they may let star off the hook!
BILLY VUNIPOLA is set to return to training at Saracens today, as the club decide if he should face any punishment after his arrest in majorca.
The 31-year- old was off duty and at home in Hertfordshire yesterday, as he and his teammates had an additional day off after their club trip to the balearics. They were due to convene this morning to start preparations for their next match, against bristol on may 11.
before then, Vunipola (right) will discover his fate after he was tasered twice before being restrained by police in Palma in the early hours of Sunday.
He released a statement apologising for his conduct, having been fined £205 and handed a suspended four-month jail sentence for resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.
Sources in France have indicated montpellier are set to go ahead as planned and sign Vunipola at the end of the season.
He is expected to visit next month for a medical and, provided there are no red flags raised, he and older brother mako should join this summer.
The judgment from Saracens is not expected to be severe. meetings will take place today to build a full picture of the episode but the most likely course of action is a warning or rebuke rather than any suspension.
Saracens stalwart Vunipola still faces a battle to sign off in fitting fashion, having struggled to displace ben Earl, Tom Willis and Juan martin gonzalez in the starting back row.
Vunipola will be desperate for a chance to contribute to a successful swansong, at the business end of the season. after their trip to bristol, Saracens will host Sale with the target of securing a home play- off, as a vital step towards retaining their Premiership title.
But the club have been hit by another blow with news maro Itoje could be banned for the run-in.
Itoje was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on bath’s alfie barbeary on Friday after making head-on-head contact. Yesterday, the RFu confirmed that the lock has been cited for dangerous tackling. He faced an independent disciplinary panel last night, with a decision expected today. any ban is likely to be two to three matches — so he could miss the remaining league games and the play-off semi-final.