The players were in Cape Town for the IRB world championship final. Source: AP
- Woman claims she was raped by Baby Blacks player
- One player has provided DNA sample
- "It is an incredibly serious matter"
THE New Zealand Rugby Union says it is co-operating with a police investigation into allegations that a member of the Baby Blacks raped a woman in South Africa.
A 22-year-old woman laid a complaint with police in Cape Town claiming she was raped by a player at the team hotel.
Police spokesman Colonel Vishnu Naidoo said the victim was having trouble remembering anything about the incident.
The woman alleges she was raped in the early hours of Saturday morning at Southern Sun Hotel Newlands after the New Zealand under-20 side were beaten 22-16 by South Africa in the IRB world championship final.
New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew says the allegation was being treated seriously.
"It is an incredibly serious matter both for the alleged victim and also for the alleged perpetrator," he told Radio New Zealand.
He said the team's players and management had co-operated fully with the authorities in South Africa.
At least one player had provided a DNA sample to police and the team did not leave the republic until they were given permission to do so, he said.
Mr Tew said they would continue to assist police where needed.
"We have a very serious criminal allegation made against one of our players and we will co-operate with police until a conclusion is drawn."
A review into the breach of team protocols - players are not allowed to take guests into their rooms - would take place at a later date.
"Right now our focus is ensuring the police in South Africa have all the information and assistance that they require."
The paper that first reported the claim, The New Age, said the team were allowed to leave South Africa only after the New Zealand High Commission intervened.
But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade rejected that.
"The NZ High Commission in Pretoria has not negotiated special treatment for the individuals concerned," a spokesperson said.
"The team and team management co-operated fully and assisted local police with their inquiries, after which Cape Town police advised they were happy for all members of the team to travel out of South Africa."
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