RFU appoint own man to investigate NZ tour allegations

The England Rugby Union has appointed its own man to investigate the issues of alleged misconduct by its players on their recent tour of New Zealand.

The RFU board met yesterday and agreed to refer the allegations of tour misconduct to their own disciplinary officer, Judge Jeff Blackett, to carry out ‘a full investigation into the allegations’.

The RFU inquiry will run separately from the police investigations taking place in New Zealand. The board said it had not set a date for the conclusion of the investigation.

The English union will also review, in consultation with Rob Andrew and Martin Johnson, will review and revise their players code of conduct, to take into account lessons learnt from the New Zealand tour incidents.

In a statement just released , the board said England players had always been great ambassadors for the game and their country.

On the recent tour of New Zealand the England squad made visits to the Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland and the Burwood Spinal Injuries Unit in Christchurch as part of their tour duties.

``The Board regrets that the recent allegations overshadowed the positive image of the game that these goodwill visits generate,’’ the board said in the statement.