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Saracens' giant Totoa Auva'a off the hook for nightclub brawl

BARNET, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Totoa Auvaa of Saracens poses for a portrait during the squad photocall for the 2025-2026 Gallagher Prem Rugby season at StoneX Stadium on August 27, 2025 in Barnet, England. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)
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Saracens lock Totoa Auva’a, who was at the centre of a bust-up with England fast bowler Gus Atkinson, has been told that he will face no disciplinary action for his Chelsea nightclub scrap.

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Highly rated Samoan-born prospect Auva’a, 21, who plays lock or blindside flanker, attempted to punch Atkinson while the England cricket team were out celebrating a win over New Zealand, but missed and hit an England and Wales Cricket Board security guard instead.

The security guard has decided not to report the matter to the police, and now Saracens and the RFU have both said that Auva’a will face no further action from them, with the ECB said to be bemused by the latest developments.

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England dropped Atkinson and skipper Ben Stokes for the second Test against the Kiwis following the incident at Rex Rooms in Chelsea for breaking a team curfew, despite concluding “they were blameless victims of unprovoked violent attacks.”

Auva’a joined the Saracens academy last August and is yet to play a first-team game, but made 17 appearances in the Champ for Ampthill last season, scoring six tries, and was sent off against Hartpury in November.

The Gallagher Prem outfit have said that they have conducted an independent review and are standing by the 6ft 5in giant who weighs in at 19st 9lb, who has already captained Samoa’s U20 and ‘A’ sides.

“Whilst the events that occurred in the early hours of Monday, 8 June 2026, are regrettable for all parties involved, the club remains supportive of the player concerned.

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“Having thoroughly reviewed the matter, the club has concluded that no further action is required and now considers the matter closed.

The ECB contacted the club as part of its review process.

“Saracens made clear that it wished to complete its own internal investigation before reaching any conclusions. The ECB subsequently concluded its process and issued its statement without any input from Saracens.”

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23 Comments
C
Conrad 132 days ago

I did ask you previously - and nicely - to stop being thick in front of us all. Don't make it a full-time job, Ed the Duck who's never hit a ruck.


Very gracious of you to apologise all the same. You do occasionally represent the best of Irish rugby fandom.

E
Ed the Duck 132 days ago

Apology my arse!


Which part of “The police can lay their own charge if they think it is valid” do you not understand as being plain wrong???

C
Conrad 132 days ago

“…police undertake the charging action”.


So happy you got there in the end. It was a tough old slog for you, but we got you there.


And apology accepted, Ed the Duck.

E
Ed the Duck 132 days ago

OMG! This is too fcuking painful!!!


The police undertake the charging action but they DO NOT DECIDE to do so by themselves. They ONLY undertake this action following direct instruction from the CPS.

J
JW 134 days ago

Ah so he’s out of Samoa? Cool.

O
OtagomanII 135 days ago

Something is curious about this. Somebody gets a whack and no one is punished. Sounds like all parties want this buried for some reason.

J
JW 134 days ago

More so because his club captain has admonished him, say that he needs to learn, but don’t punish him no matter how little.


Like they think it ‘wrong’ to actually punish him, that the Samoan way of sorting things out is admirable or something. Makes you wonder what Atkinson did.

C
Conrad 135 days ago

Very true. Very strange.


I reckon, with his previous appalling history in social situations, the cricket/rounders lad started something he couldn’t finish.


The big Saracens lad went to bury him and hit the wrong guy.

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