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6 months ago
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Saracens have been hit by another blow after Billy Vunipola's arrest in Majorca with the news his team-mate Maro Itoje is facing a possible ban for dangerous tackling.
Vunipola's career was plunged into doubt on Monday as he flew home from a Saracens trip to Europe after being Tasered by police for resisting arrest and assaulting an officer.
The 31-year-old England No 8 arrived at Stansted Airport with team-mates amid a club investigation into the events which led to him being Tasered twice in a bar in Palma in the early hours of Sunday. A drunk, shirtless Vunipola was restrained and taken to hospital, where he had to be strapped to a bed.
He went on to face an 'express' trial in court, where he was fined €240 (£205) and handed a suspended four-month prison sentence.
The incident is one which has the potential to derail Saracens' bid to defend their Gallagher Premiership title.
Billy Vunipola's Saracens have been hit by another major blow following the No 8's arrest
Vunipola has landed back in the UK with uncertainty over his future after being Tasered twice
Itoje, meanwhile, could be banned for his side's next few games after a head-on-head contact tackle against Bath
Mark McCall's men are second in the table after a 15-12 win at Bath last Friday.
Vunipola's immediate club future with Saracens is unclear. He is scheduled to join French side Montpellier at the end of the season. But there is now a very real chance both he and Itoje will miss crucial fixtures in the English league run-in.
Itoje was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Bath's Alfie Barbeary at The Rec. Itoje made head-on-head contact with Barbeary.
Referee Luke Pearce showed the England lock a yellow card and not a red, leaving him to face 10 minutes in the sin bin and not a permanent dismissal.
That seemed the end of the matter but on Tuesday, the Rugby Football Union confirmed Itoje had been cited for dangerous tackling for the Barbeary incident.
He will face an independent disciplinary panel on Tuesday and if it is decided Itoje is guilty, he faces a possible ban likely to be in the region of two to three matches.
Itoje will face an independent disciplinary panel on Tuesday and faces a possible ban of up to three matches
Such a scenario would mean he would miss Saracens' final two games of the regular Premiership season away at Bristol and at home to Sale.
While Saracens are in a good position to finish in the top four and secure a home Premiership semi-final, going without Itoje in the run-in would be a blow.
Just four points separate McCall's side in second and Sale in sixth.
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