Saracens left 'disappointed' by players

SPOTLIGHT: Saracens have been forced to apologise for the behaviour of England star Billy Vunipola.

The Premiership club issued the apology on Thursday after Vunipola and four of his club colleagues were found to have flouted social distancing guidelines designed to protect the public from the coronavirus.

Vunipola met his teammates for coffee in St Alban's on Monday, not far from Saracens' headquarters in a northwest London suburb.

The powerhouse No.8 was joined by fellow England internationals Alex Goode and Nick Isiekwe, as well as Scotland and Lions wing Sean Maitland and prop Josh Ibuanokpe picking up takeaway coffees, with photographs carried by newspaper the Daily Mail showing the group all in close proximity to each other.

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"The club was very disappointed to learn about a small group of Saracens players being sighted together in St Alban's on Monday this week," said a Saracens spokesman.

"The players accept they made an error in judgement and apologise for any upset caused. The [British] Government guidelines on social distancing and public gatherings of more than two people are very clear and the club has been vigorous in its messaging to all players and staff members about the importance of adhering to these guidelines whilst in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Management has spoken to the players involved, all of whom accept that they made an error in judgement and have apologised for any upset they may have caused."

Reigning English and European champions Saracens are set to be relegated from the Premiership, regardless of whether the currently suspended domestic rugby union season resumes or not, after breaching the league's salary cap regulations.

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