Jamie George, the stand-in England rugby captain, has delivered a stern warning to his team-mate Totoa Auvaa, labelling his behaviour during a chaotic nightclub incident as 'unacceptable' - and it's clear he's not mincing words. The shocking scenes unfolded on June 8th when an England security staff member was left injured after being struck by the young Samoan forward.
The incident, which also involved England cricket captain Ben Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson, has sparked intense debate about accountability within both teams. Despite Saracens' internal investigation concluding without formal sanctions for Auvaa - who boasts a strong reputation as a 'good kid' - George's comments make it clear that the club won't let him off scot-free.
'He's a young kid who has only left Samoa once, and he's like a rabbit in the headlights in London,' George explained. 'But we need to make it crystal-clear that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable.' He acknowledged Auvaa's innocence but stressed, 'We've got to look after him because he doesn't know right from wrong at the minute. We'll guide him, put role models around him - and ensure he understands what's expected.'
But what about the roles of Stokes and Atkinson? The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) found them in breach of 'contractual obligations' for violating their team's midnight curfew. However, after a disciplinary hearing, both cricketers escaped with written warnings - despite the ECB admitting there was insufficient evidence to prove 'violent conduct'. It's clear that Stokes, Atkinson, and Auvaa all have some serious soul-searching to do.
Saracens have voiced their discontent over the ECB's handling of the incident, claiming they weren't properly involved in the investigation. Now, with George's words hanging in the air, one thing is certain: this won't be the last we've seen of Totoa Auvaa's antics.