Saracens sack Totoa Auvaa after fresh St Albans incident as Stokes crisis deepens

Saracens part ways with Totoa Auvaa after another alcohol-fuelled incident

Saracens have sacked Totoa Auvaa, the 21-year-old Samoan forward whose punch in a Chelsea nightclub last summer triggered the chain of events that led Ben Stokes to resign as England Test captain and retire from international cricket.

The club confirmed on Monday evening that Auvaa, a member of the senior men's academy, had left with immediate effect following an internal investigation into an alcohol-related incident in St Albans over the weekend. The decision brings to an end a turbulent association that had already drawn in English cricket's biggest names.

From Chelsea to St Albans

Auvaa first came to prominence for the wrong reasons in June, when he threw a punch at England bowler Gus Atkinson during a night out in a Chelsea nightclub. The blow missed Atkinson and instead struck an ECB security guard, who required stitches but did not report the matter to police. Saracens opted not to take disciplinary action at the time — a decision that left the ECB bemused, particularly given that Stokes and Atkinson were both stood down from the second Test of England's 2-1 series defeat against New Zealand despite being blameless.

The ill-feeling from the episode proved decisive. While both cricketers returned for the third Test, Stokes's unhappiness at the England and Wales Cricket Board's handling of the matter influenced his sudden retirement on the fourth day at Trent Bridge. Saracens, in confirming no action against Auvaa in June, had sharply criticised the ECB for failing to consult them before releasing a statement referring to their employees being victims of "unprovoked attacks", describing the events as "regrettable" but insisting they were "supportive" of their player.

Another incident

Auvaa, who made his senior Saracens debut off the bench in a Prem Rugby Cup victory over Northampton last month, had been handed a final warning following other alcohol-related incidents. That warning has now been breached.

In a statement, Saracens said: "Saracens can confirm that Totoa Auvaa, a member of the senior men's academy, has left the club with immediate effect. Following an incident over the weekend, the club has determined that his conduct was inconsistent with the standards and values expected of all individuals representing Saracens, both on and off the field.

"Saracens takes its responsibilities to its supporters, partners and the wider community seriously. The club remains committed to upholding the highest standards of behaviour, integrity and accountability across the organisation. The club will not be making any further comment on this matter."

Separately, Hertfordshire police confirmed they were investigating an alleged assault in the early hours of Sunday morning in St Albans. "Police are investigating an altercation which occurred between 2.15am and 2.20am on Sunday [11 October] in St Peter's Street, St Albans," a statement read. "It is alleged a man aged in his 20s was approached by another man who then punched him to the face. Inquiries are ongoing at this time."

A wider storm

The Auvaa episode was the flashpoint in a turbulent 2026 for Stokes, who has been at the centre of as much off-field drama as on-field triumph this year. The Guardian previously reported on 2 October that Durham's Brydon Carse had been charged by the Cricket Regulator over a night-out arrest in Derby, an incident in August in which Stokes was filmed leaving a nightclub while Carse was handcuffed by police. Prior coverage from September noted that Stokes had been suspended for a Test in June following the Chelsea episode with Atkinson, before his retirement after the New Zealand series.