By Adam Hollingworth
Rugby Union bosses have conceded the player at the centre of rape allegations did do something wrong.
Steve Tew, Rugby Union CEO, says it is clear that he did take a woman to his room in break of team guidelines.
“It's clear that a player took a young woman to his room. That is a breach of team protocols,” he says.
Mr Tew says that players had been frequently reminded that they were representing their country.
“As late as last thing in the changing sheds on Saturday they were reminded of their responsibilities representing this country and their families and also of the dangers of being in a foreign country where clearly you put yourself at risk if you make poor decisions,” he says.
“It's obvious that our man has made a poor decision and he's obviously dealing with it.”
The team were staying at a hotel in the upmarket suburb of Newlands just 700 metres from the stadium.
According to a South African newspaper, the 22-year-old woman may have met the player at a nearby nightspot after the game.
Investigative reporter De Wet Potgeiter says that the woman turned up at the hotel later that evening and told staff she was there to visit her cousin.
“The woman turned up to the reception desk at the hotel late Friday evening telling the staff that she was there to visit her cousin, and according to the staff she knew where she was going, she knew the room number, everything,” he says.
The woman made the allegation of rape the following morning after her parents picked her up.
Police spokesperson Colonel Vish Naidoo says the woman’s memories from the evening are hazy.
“She said that she had very little recollection of what happened. It sometimes is a case when a victim is a victim of rape and brutal assault,” he says.
Mr Potgeiter says that hotel staff found blood on sheets the following day.
“From what staff at the hotel said to us is that they did find blood on the bed sheet in one of the hotel rooms,” he says.
Mr Tew confirmed the player and his roommate have both given police a DNA sample, but have denied the allegations of rape.
There is also CCTV footage from public areas of the hotel, however Mr Tew says that it is impossible to constantly monitor players.
“You can't watch everybody 24 hours of the day and people will have to make their own decisions eventually and be held accountable,” he says.
Since no charges have been laid the union is not naming the player under investigation, meaning the whole 26-man squad remains under suspicion.
Mr Tew says the team would prefer at this stage to share the responsibility and are supporting the accused player, who is distressed by the allegations.
“He’s very upset,” he says.
3 News