Stuff.co.nz reports that Dunedin police are believed to be investigating an alleged sexual assault in the city involving a Lions rugby player.
The alleged incident took place in the hours after the touring South African team beat the Highlanders 26-22 in their Super Rugby match at Carisbrook on Saturday night.
Police are not talking about the allegation, apart from issuing a brief statement late this morning saying that there had been an “incident” early Sunday morning involving an 18-year-old female.
It is understood an 18-year-old University of Otago student has complained that she was sexually assaulted.
Friends of the girl at one of the University’s halls of residence say they have been warned not to talk to reporters about the incident.
Otago University communications manager Megan McPherson said the incident was a “police matter”.
It is understood police today requested video footage from a bar in central Dunedin.
When contacted this morning Lions Coach John Mitchell said he had no information. “This is the first we’ve heard of it.”
Sho sho
I hope the bugger gets kicked out the team if guilty.
It doesn’t sound good!
Ouch!! Let’s hope this isn’t true…..but if it is then the player should be harshly dealt with.
I seriously hope this is not a case of “you can take the Lion out of the bush, but you cannot get the bush out of the Lion”…or ‘brandewyn het nie brieke nie”…
@Pokkel (Comment 5) : Agreed, but if it is a case of a disgruntled Highlander supporter merely trying to get one back for her team’s loss to the Lions, I trust she will be named and shamed. Serious allegations.
Naughty Boy!
Hmmm. My understanding was these guys were on a strict no alcohol early to bed regimen on tour. I see the Lions are now trying to get out of their partnership agreement with Robert Gumede and they are being shipped off to Soccer City against their wishes. Poor guys are staggering from one mishap to another.
@Caratacus (Comment 11) : I dont think they are trying to get out – its more a case of SARU (I think) declaring the contract invalid and against their policies…or that was my understaninding of it..
Even in victory somehow they lose,let’s hope this isn’t true
Jean Deysel, Michael Rhodes and one other player has been cited following this weekends games.
I will not comment until confirmed. No point in speculating about such serious allegations. As for the Gumede issue, I was given the communication that Gumede was trying to arm wrestle The Lions into the stadium… I.e. He has rights to the stadium and is acting on his own interest and wants to charge The Lions an absolute fortune for playing there / the stadium cannot be owned by GLRU unlike Ellis Park (no one correct me and call it Coke Park) – difficult relationship indeed… Money, money, money, money…
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 14) : The 3rd would be H’lander Siale Piutua.
@ ICE and Dark Destroyer – thanks for that. Always good to get the other side!!
With a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work, SA can have 3 teams in the play-offs
From sources on twitter . .
RT @Lisa_Hack: WRT “Lions player investigated for sexual assault” allegations are unfounded as 2 rugby teams were staying at the same hotel
Don’t know how much that means
a few years back England scrumhalf and another english player also had sexual assault charges against them, but if memory serves me correct, it was in Auckland.
@VanWilder (Comment 20) :
Topsy Ojo and Mike Brown, charges dropped, fined a 1000 Pounds
….. never played for England again !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 21) :
…… Danny care was lurking around the alledged incident as well!
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 21) : yip, i remember that… it was when england sent a second string side to tour NZ. eish, hope its not the same case with the lions this time round.
Isn’t this something that you expect from the league players??? Are any of the Lions former league players?
@Mocho (Comment 3) :
One would hope for a bit more than that as puunishment.
I too will do as DD and reserve comment for now.
I am having to fight hard to contain comments about fans feeling that the Lions screwing their team’s chances – sexual assault is after all a horrific crime.
So the Lions know nothing about it & no-one has been arrested or charged with anything.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 22) : Why are the Highlanders changing to green jerseys?
This could make the Hurricanes favourites this weekend.
I hope it`s just sensasionalism though.
Tell you what is a crime, Sonny-boy’s next boxing opponent.
Some morbidly obese gospel singer.
This is really bad for SA not good at all and if true then he must take all that comes to him like a man
i truly hope it is not
But then again there are always 2 sides to a story
@chaz (Comment 30) : Until someone is actually arrested & charged there’s nothing to worry about.
so was it Elton trying to find pie -shop ?
The Dunedin police should really be investigating the Highlanders dirty play. Imagine the Bulls were caught on camera almost every week punching the opposition.
Hmmmm
Must everyone missbehave in NZ…lol
POLICE UPDATE:
Very little in the local paper today just a small article saying what we already knew.
The statement read that the inquiry was in it’s infancy and that the Lions management were fully cooperating with inquries.
Very hard to prove, I would very much doubt anything will come of it.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 36) : Thanks for the update HH.
@Ben (Comment 37) :
Well we know it wasn’t Earl Rose…
@klempie (Comment 39) : On the other hand, had Jody Rose been on the tour…
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 36) : Probably more important things in the local press, such as the riots going on and burning of Otago RU buildings in protest against the new jerseys.
@McLovin (Comment 3: agree but does it stop at sth like this once blamed for sth you didn’t do goes with the name of the game it will always be in the back of all thoughts and that is not good
when will we get an update