No action over NZ rugby sex claim

The incident was alleged to have taken place at Auckland's Hilton Hotel

A woman involved in an alleged sexual assault by four England rugby players in New Zealand has said she will not be making a formal complaint to police.

Auckland police were investigating allegations of a sexual assault at the city's Hilton Hotel on 15 June.

The players, who strenuously denied any wrongdoing, had been on a night out following England's first Test defeat.

Lawyers for the woman said she felt making a complaint would attract media attention and threaten her privacy.

'Threaten privacy'

Jack Hodder, a partner in New Zealand law firm Chapman Tripp, told the Rugby Football Union (RFU): "We can advise that the victim remains of the view that she will not make a formal complaint to the New Zealand Police."

He said she thought taking such action would generate "extensive and invasive news media" and "threaten her privacy and personal life".

Chapman Tripp also said their client is not willing to "deal directly" with the misconduct investigation being undertaken by English rugby's disciplinary chief Judge Jeff Blackett.

The RFU said Blackett "is considering the contents of the letter and his investigation is continuing. No date has been set for the completion of the investigation".

The players, who have not been identified, declined to be interviewed by police during the tour as no formal complaint had been made.

After the allegation was made, RFU chief executive Francis Baron said the RFU was desperate to clear the players' names.

He said: "We're in a very strange situation - with no allegations, no complaint being made - as to exactly how the name of the players can be cleared."