Jamie George has criticized his Saracens teammate Totoa Auvaa's behavior after Auvaa was involved in a nightclub incident with England cricket captain Ben Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson. George described Auvaa's actions as "unacceptable" and noted that the 21-year-old is still adjusting to life in London.
George, who is the stand-in England rugby captain, stated that Auvaa is like "a rabbit in the headlights" and suggested that he does not yet understand the implications of his actions. Despite this, George emphasized that Auvaa is a "good kid" who simply made a mistake.
Earlier this week, Saracens announced that Auvaa would not face formal sanctions following their investigation into the incident that occurred on June 8. The club acknowledged the situation as "regrettable for all parties involved" but expressed support for Auvaa.
Stokes and Atkinson had breached their team's midnight curfew while celebrating a victory in the first Test. They were present when a member of England's security staff was injured and required medical attention after being struck by Auvaa.
George remarked, "We need to make sure that we establish that sort of behavior is unacceptable." He also mentioned the importance of providing Auvaa with guidance and role models to help him navigate his new environment.
Stokes and Atkinson were deemed unavailable for England's second Test defeat pending an inquiry. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) found that while they breached "contractual obligations," they were not responsible for any violent conduct during the incident.
The ECB stated that Stokes was not involved in the altercation and that Atkinson was a victim of unprovoked attacks. Saracens criticized the ECB for not involving them in the inquiry process.
