Sex scandal England rugby stars return from botched tour
England's rugby squad arrives home today from a disastrous tour of New Zealand wrecked by sexual assault claims.
Auckland police are investigating allegations that four of the players were involved in the rape of a teenage barmaid.
The players deny the claims but team bosses are said to accept that two of the four had sex with the 18-year-old in a waterfront hotel while the other two watched.
'New Zealand was against us': Matt Stevens, Lee Mears and Andrew Sheridan during the England training session in Auckland
The players, who have not been identified, maintain that the sex was consensual. The barmaid has not made a formal complaint to police.
Before boarding the flight home, prop Matt Stevens said he felt the entire New Zealand nation was against the team.
Greg Ford, one of the country's top sports writers, said of the England team: 'They are at best guilty of some pretty shoddy behaviour, at worst criminal behaviour. Good riddance, old chaps.'
The four players allegedly met the teenager while partying on June 14 following the first of their two heavy defeats by the All Blacks.
The Rugby Football Union has launched an investigation.
