Steve Tew

South African police are waiting for the results of forensic tests before deciding whether to press rape charges against one player in the New Zealand Under 20 rugby team.

South African media initially reported four members of the team were accused of raping a 22-year-old woman in a room at the Southern Sun Hotel Newlands in Cape Town after the final on Friday evening (SA time).

Earlier in the evening, the team had lost 22-16 to South Africa in the Junior Rugby World Championship final.

"An allegation of rape is as serious as it comes", NZ Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew told Radio New Zealand today.

The team and management did not leave South Africa until they got permission from authorities and would continue to co-operate fully, he said.

He confirmed at least one player provided DNA samples for the investigation.

There were protocols for teams when they were on trips away, but breaches sometimes occurred, he said.

"But unfortunately, when you have that many young men away on tour some things happen that you'd prefer not to and now we're dealing with the consequences."

South African police officer Colonel Vish Naido told Radio New Zealand the woman told police she had been drinking and had little memory of what happened.

The rest is here:
DNA given after rugby rape claim