Montpellier to go ahead with Billy Vunipola signing despite arrest

The fact that Billy Vunipola was arrested in a bar in Spain during the wee hours of Sunday morning has not put his transfer to Montpellier in danger for the coming season.

Vunipola got shocked by a taser and was held in Epic, a place in Majorca. He's set to leave Saracens after 11 years and quit playing for England when this season concludes. He'll transfer to the French club.

According to sources at Telegraph Sport, it seems that the transfer of the No 8 player to Montpellier is still being considered despite the incident that occurred on Sunday. A source closely linked to the French club, which is owned by the wealthy Mohed Altrad, has stated that everything is fine and nobody in France appears to be talking about the issue.

Towards the conclusion of the previous season, Montpellier scrapped Luke Cowan-Dickie's transfer deal as the England hooker was reportedly held in police custody for intoxication during a visit to the French town. Although Mohamed Haouas, who received a red card during the 2020 and 2023 Six Nations matches against Scotland, had been convicted of committing domestic violence and getting into a quarrel at a bakery last year, he will be joining Vunipola as a teammate in the following season.

It is not yet known if Vunipola will receive additional punishment from Saracens or the Rugby Football Union, but it's possible that any penalty could result in another review by Montpellier officials. On Monday, Vunipola's team issued a statement stating that they would handle the matter.

Saracens is conscious of an occurrence involving Billy Vunipola in Majorca. We will handle this matter internally and will not make any additional statements until then.

The occurrence became known through an incredible video captured by a security camera. The video displayed Vunipola, who is more than 6 feet tall and weighs over 20 stones, without a shirt, and laughing while being encircled by law enforcement officials and the security of the bar. The police had already removed everyone else from the vicinity.

The England and Saracens player in the No. 8 position, who has played 75 matches for his country, was taken into police custody for the night and fined for not following orders and attacking a police officer. Additionally, he has been given a prison sentence of four months that will be suspended. Vunipola acknowledged on Monday that there was an "unfortunate misunderstanding" with the authorities.

Vunipola admitted to being involved in an unfortunate incident while leaving a club in Mallorca on Sunday, which escalated out of control. Contrary to what the media has stated, there was no violence or fight, nor did he threaten anyone with any objects like bottles or chairs. He was found guilty of resisting the law and had to pay a fine of €240 after an express trial. The Spanish police inquiry is now concluded, and he will return home today. Vunipola will cooperate with Saracens while they investigate and apologize to everyone involved for any inconvenience caused.

On Friday evening, Vunipola participated in a game for Saracens, a team based in North London. However, the team has no matches this weekend due to their exclusion from the upcoming European semi-finals. As a result, Vunipola travelled to Majorca for a social event with the team's players and management. Unfortunately, in the early hours of Sunday morning, he was apprehended by police officers. It took two taser shocks to subdue him, as the first one hit his wallet. The officers then escorted him to a hospital called Son Espases, where he was reportedly sedated and restrained to his bed. The hospital staff, as well as the police, kept a close watch over him.