Two punch-ups, two red cards, no chances left - Saracens sack Auvaa
Totoa Auvaa's young career has been derailed by a chaotic 14 months at Saracens which featured violence both on and off the pitch.
Key points
- Saracens sacked 21-year-old Samoan player Totoa Auvaa on Monday after an internal investigation into a punch-up in St Albans.
- Auvaa had been on loan at Ampthill last season and was sent off twice for violent conduct.
- Jamie George said the club's technical director and CEO handled the situation well and the squad will focus on rugby.
Saracens have sacked 21-year-old Samoan player Totoa Auvaa after an internal investigation into a punch-up in St Albans. The club announced the investigation on Monday afternoon and released a second statement four hours later confirming his dismissal.
Auvaa had been unveiled less than 14 months earlier with a statement praising his "enormous potential". The swift conclusion reflected exhausted patience among the Saracens hierarchy.
Previous incidents and warnings
In June, Auvaa was involved in a nightclub altercation with England cricketers Gus Atkinson and Ben Stokes. Saracens said the incident was "regrettable for all parties" but did not punish him. Hooker Jamie George called Auvaa "immature" and his behaviour "unacceptable", but pointed to his youth and distance from home, saying the club would look after him.
Auvaa also had disciplinary problems on the field. On loan at Ampthill last season, he was sent off twice for violent conduct: against Hartpury in November he punched an opposition player in the face after conceding a try, and in March, again against Hartpury, he kicked someone in the head at the bottom of a ruck. His youth, recent arrival in England and stress over his father's illness in Samoa were cited in mitigation.
Brendan [Venter, technical director] and our CEO [Ed Coetzee] did a great job in terms of standing up, addressing it and making sure we moved on
— Jamie George
Club statement and future
In releasing Auvaa, Saracens referenced their obligations to their "supporters, young people and partners". The club founded a secondary school near the StoneX Stadium in 2018.
Auvaa, who has captained Samoa at Under-20 and 'A' level, may find another European club willing to take him on and sponsor his visa. Any interested club will note his poor disciplinary record in north London before paying his wages.
