The woman at the centre of a sexual assault allegation made against four members of the England rugby union team does not plan on making a formal complaint to the New Zealand police.
In a letter sent to the Rugby Football Union, the woman's solicitors Chapman Tripp also state she is not willing to "deal directly" with the misconduct investigation being undertaken by Twickenham's disciplinary chief Judge Jeff Blackett.
The woman fears a formal complaint would "generate extensive and invasive news media, threaten her privacy and personal life and compound the impact on her of the June 15 sexual violations".
The unnamed quartet have strongly denied any wrongdoing from the outset.
Without a formal complaint from the alleged victim, the New Zealand police cannot take any action against the four England players.
With the RFU's own internal investigation ongoing, the woman has, for the first time, addressed some of the details relating to the allegation in order to provide "essential context" and to correct "misinformation" in the media.
The Auckland police have alleged an incident occurred in a private room at the team hotel in the early hours of Sunday June 15 after England's first Test defeat to New Zealand.
The woman's solicitors allege she was invited back to the Hilton hotel by one member of the England team and then "sexually violated by four members of the team."
The woman states she was referred to police by the medical professionals who treated injuries which occurred in the alleged assault, and not a boyfriend as some reports have claimed.
The solicitor's letter also denied reports their client is a lapdancer and countered suggestions that she knows the woman who sold her 'Angel Barbie' story to a Sunday newspaper.
The solicitor's letter, signed by partner Jack Hodder, adds the woman "has not had, and wishes not to have, any communication with the news media".
The RFU received the letter from Chapman Tripp this morning and issued a statement to PA Sport.
It read: "The RFU disciplinary officer His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett has received correspondence this morning from the solicitors Chapman Tripp in New Zealand.
"He is considering the contents of the letter and his investigation is continuing. No date has been set for the completion of the investigation."
RFU chief executive Francis Baron stated before the squad left New Zealand that they would be pressing the Auckland police to close the case if no formal complaint was made because it was the only way for the players to clear their names.
The independent legal advice, hired for the players by the RFU in New Zealand, was that they decline a police interview on the grounds that no formal complaint had been made.
The players are known to be angry and frustrated at not being able to clear their names.
When elite rugby director Rob Andrew was asked this week about attempts to have the case closed, he simply stated that talks had been ongoing, but he could not reveal with who.
More news from SportingLife.com




Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account