Saracens Dealt Blow as Vunipola and Itoje Face Disciplinary Issues
Saracens have been rocked by a double setback, with Billy Vunipola’s off-field troubles compounded by the potential suspension of teammate Maro Itoje.
Vunipola returned to the UK on Monday after a concerning incident in Majorca, where he was Tasered by police for resisting arrest and assaulting an officer while in a drunken state. The 31-year-old England No. 8 was restrained and taken to hospital, where he had to be strapped to a bed. He was later fined €240 (£205) and given a suspended four-month prison sentence following an “express” court trial.
Vunipola’s immediate future with Saracens is now uncertain, as the club investigates the matter. The player was due to join French side Montpellier at the end of the season, but this latest episode could jeopardize those plans.
Adding to Saracens’ woes, Itoje is facing a possible ban after being cited for dangerous tackling in the team’s recent 15-12 victory over Bath. The England lock made head-on-head contact with Bath’s Alfie Barbeary, for which he received a yellow card. However, the Rugby Football Union has since deemed the incident worthy of further disciplinary action.
Itoje will appear before an independent panel on Tuesday, and if found guilty, he could be suspended for two to three matches. This would mean the influential forward would miss Saracens’ crucial final two games of the regular Premiership season, against Bristol and Sale.
“While Saracens sit second in the table and are well-positioned to secure a home semi-final, the potential absences of both Vunipola and Itoje could prove to be a significant blow to their title defense aspirations.”
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