Saracens have released 21-year-old Samoan forward Totoa Auvaa with immediate effect after an incident in St Albans on Saturday, 10 October. The academy player had initially been stood down while the club investigated before the decision was announced on Monday.
The club said Auvaa’s conduct fell short of the standards expected of everyone representing Saracens on and off the pitch. It cited its responsibilities to supporters, young people and partners, and said it would make no further comment.
The decision follows a June incident at a London nightclub involving England cricketers Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson. A punch aimed at Atkinson missed and struck an England and Wales Cricket Board security guard, who required stitches but did not report the incident to police.
Saracens concluded its earlier review without formal action, while the Rugby Football Union also did not sanction Auvaa. An ECB disciplinary hearing found that Stokes and Atkinson breached contractual obligations by being at the nightclub but found neither responsible for violent conduct; both missed England’s second Test against New Zealand, received written warnings and returned for the third. Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket during that match.