Sport Line News

Four unnamed England rugby players, who are in New Zealand are refusing to be questioned by the New Zealand police about an alleged sexual assault at the weekend.

The police have confirmed that they are investigating an allegation or rape and/or sexual assault, but have not received a formal complaint from the alleged victim.

Media reports claim the boyfriend of an 18-year-old girl has complained that two players had sex with her at their hotel in Auckland last Sunday morning while two others looked on.

The players are denying that any sexual assault occurred and are refusing a request to voluntarily be interviewed by the police.

New Zealand detectives were today meeting a high-powered band of red-rose officials in an effort to secure interviews with the so-called “Auckland Four” - a quartet of players accused of an unspecified offence of sexual misconduct in the aftermath of last weekend's heavy defeat by the All Blacks in the Eden Park Test.

The England management delegation, which included the Rugby Football Union's chief executive Francis Baron and the travelling lawyer Richard Smith QC as well as a hand-picked team of local legal experts, were reluctant to expose the unnamed players to questioning unless and until the travelling members of Auckland's Criminal Investigation Bureau gave firm details of the nature of their inquiry.

Content Courtsey: Belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby