Saracens player NAMED following 'melee' with Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson in bar brawl

A Saracens player is understood to have been involved in an altercation with two England cricketers and a security guard at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning.

The incident reportedly occurred after the Saracens end-of-season party, with the two sets of sportsmen clashing in the VIP area of the Rex Rooms nightclub in Chelsea.

It has been alleged by The Telegraph that “a melee erupted” between a Saracens Academy player, cricketers Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson, and a “member of the cricketing security entourage”.

The player, now named as 21-year-old Totoa Auvaa, was alleged to have initiated the incident before throwing a punch, with a senior source in English rugby saying: “The Saracens player caused this and has a rep. I would not want the England cricket captain to lose his job over this.”

Stokes and Atkinson were not injured, but the security guard was left requiring stitches. ECB sources have stated that the cricketers were “not the aggressors”.

Saracens have confirmed that they are aware of the incident, telling the press: “We are aware of an incident involving an academy player connected to Saracens on Sunday evening.

“The club is currently establishing the full facts and is in contact with the relevant authorities and individuals involved. Once this process is complete, the matter will be reviewed and addressed appropriately.”

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The former Samoa U20s and Samoa A captain, Auvaa, will have an apprehensive wait to find out what his future holds. He’s yet to play for Saracens’ senior side, and his prospects look ever more scarce after this incident.

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That’s just not cricket

Stokes and Atkinson will wait nervously for their judgment, too, after once again breaking curfew following their Test against New Zealand on Sunday.

The England and Wales Cricket Board [ECB] introduced a midnight curfew following the Ashes, and while most players adhered to the ruling, only Stokes and Atkinson breached it.

According to The Telegraph, an ECB investigation is underway, and the matter has been taken to the Cricket Regulator.

They’ve also stated that Stokes is understood to be considering his position as captain. It is possible that he could still be removed from his job by the ECB following the investigation into his and Atkinson’s conduct.

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