By Laura Frykberg
The NZRU and the Ministry of Foreign affairs are denying reports that high level negotiations were needed to get the Baby Blacks out of South Africa following a rape allegation.
South African police have confirmed at least one member of the team is being investigated, but say the complainant's memory of the incident is vague.
They say a 22-year-old South African woman alleged she was the victim of rape the day after the Baby Blacks lost the junior world championship final to the Baby Boks on Friday night.
“She alleged that she'd been raped by at least one of the Baby Blacks players,” South Africa police service colonel Vish Naidoo says.
“Following this allegation we have opened this rape case, preliminary investigations have been conducted.”
That investigation involved interviewing witnesses and forensic testing of the alleged crime scene, which has been reported as being the Southern Sun Hotel in Newlands, Cape Town.
South African police say they won't make a decision on whether to press charges until the results of those tests are known.
Back here the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) says the team is cooperating with South African authorities.
It released a statement saying:
“The team and team management complied with local police requirements and cooperated fully and assisted them with their enquiries after which police advised they were happy for all members of the team to travel home.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says reports that getting them home involved the New Zealand High Commission in Cape Town negotiating special treatment with police officials, are untrue.
Other reports that the woman was intoxicated wouldn't be confirmed by police, but they say her memory of the alleged incident is vague.
“The victim claims that although she knows she's been raped, that she has no recollection of what happened,” Mr Naidoo says.
The NZRU says it'll discuss the matter further with team management if they're contacted again by South African police.
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