Saracens WON'T abandon boozy squad bonding trips despite Billy Vunipola being Tasered and arrested in Majorca... as club chief reveals reason behind decision not to punish the star

Saracens are unlikely to abandon the tradition of organising boozy squad bonding trips, despite the fall-out from Billy Vunipola's recent arrest in Majorca.

The Premiership champions are preparing for a return to league action at Bristol on Saturday, after a weekend in the Balearics for players and staff came under scrutiny as their giant No 8 was fined €240 and handed a suspended four-month prison sentence. Vunipola expressed his remorse in an exclusive interview with Mail Sport and his club remain convinced about the benefit of the trips which have helped to foster their collective spirit over years of title-winning success.

'It was a really positive weekend for the group to spend quality time together away from training,' said Saracens' director of rugby, Mark McCall. 'That's something the players look forward to doing as it has been part of what we have done for a long time. I think other clubs are doing it as well.

'We're just trying to connect the group a bit more deeply than you can sometimes get in your day-to-day work. It was a really positive couple of days, despite what happened. It was a really enjoyable, well-organised trip away together after a tough game against Bath. With nothing the following weekend, it was an opportunity for us to connect in a different way and I am glad we did it.'

When asked if the incident which involved a drunken Vunipola being Tasered twice before being restrained by several Police officers – in what appeared to be an excessive show of force – would make Saracens reconsider the trips in future, McCall added: 'I don't think so, no.'

The Ulsterman went on to explain why the club merely issued a rebuke, rather than dishing out a more significant sanction for the younger Vunipola brother, adding: 'The only thing that I would add to what the club has said is that when someone does something wrong, the first reaction doesn't always have to be to punish that person. Sometimes you've got to understand why what happened happened, to support and help.

'We understand that people are human and make mistakes. Of course there's a line, and there are things that you can't condone. But, more often than not, if it's appropriate, we would want to give people second chances, maybe even sometimes third chances if it's clear that they're remorseful.'

As for what he would expect from the contrite Vunipola in the weeks ahead, McCall said: 'Just what he always does, which is to give his all to his team-mates.'