England cricket captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were involved in an alleged late-night brawl with a Saracens rugby player, who has now been identified. Totoa Auvaa, 21, is understood to have been part of a melee at Chelsea's Rex Rooms nightclub alongside other Saracens players after an end-of-season social event across Fulham on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, a larger group of England cricketers, celebrating their first Test win against New Zealand, and Saracens players, enjoying their end-of-season downtime after missing out on the Premiership play-offs, had gathered at the White House pub in Parson's Green. Later, a handful of players, including Stokes, Atkinson, and Auvaa, moved to Chelsea, where Stokes and Atkinson entered the VIP area of the nightclub in the early hours of Monday.
According to reports, a fracas broke out between the trio and a member of the cricketing security team. It is unclear whether Stokes and Atkinson retaliated. The Mirror reported that Auvaa allegedly threw a punch at Atkinson but instead struck an ECB security guard, leaving him requiring stitches. The two England stars were described as 'not the aggressors,' and police were not called.
Club's response and player's background
Saracens back-rowers Theo McFarland and Ben Earl were also reportedly present. Auvaa has yet to make his senior debut for Saracens but made 17 appearances for Ampthill in the second tier of English rugby last season. He is regarded as one of the club's top prospects and has captained Samoa U20s and Samoa A. It remains to be seen whether his future at the north London club will be affected.
Saracens released a statement on Monday, saying: '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. We will make no further comment at this time.'
ECB investigation and previous incidents
The ECB also issued a statement, reading: 'The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men's Test against New Zealand. Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning when an incident took place. We are currently seeking further information, and an announcement regarding the squad for the second Test will be made in due course. The Cricket Regulator has been informed and we will provide a further update when possible.'
Stokes and Atkinson both face an internal ECB investigation after committing a 'breach of team protocols.' The latest incident compounds England's mounting reputation issues following a number of drinking incidents during their woeful Ashes campaign Down Under. White-ball captain Harry Brooks had previously been fined for a tussle with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington. Head coach Brendon McCullum had earlier issued a caution to his players, stating: 'Don't do anything that lands you on the front page of the paper and nothing good happens after midnight.' Stokes had previously missed the 2017-18 Ashes tour after being charged with affray following an incident at a Bristol nightclub, though he was subsequently acquitted.
