Blackett to head RFU tour probe

The Rugby Football Union are to launch an investigation into allegations of player misconduct during England's tour to New Zealand, it was announced on Wednesday.

England were beaten 37-20 in the opening Test by the All Blacks yet a section of the squad later embarked on a drinking session at a nightclub which concluded with girls returning to the team hotel.

The investigation will be conducted by the RFU's disciplinary officer Jeff Blackett, who intends to reveal his findings as soon as possible.

Blackett's probe will run separately from the police investigations taking place in New Zealand involving allegations of serious sexual assault against four unnamed England players.

Elite rugby director Rob Andrew on Wednesday presented the RFU's management board with his report into a tour that has been mired in controversy on and off the pitch.

RFU chief executive Francis Baron recently expressed his concern that the reputation of English rugby had been tarnished by the events in New Zealand.

The four players, who were on Tuesday named by a national newspaper, have yet to be interviewed by police as no formal complaint has been made and they strenuously deny any wrongdoing.

But the decision by a section of the squad to visit an Auckland nightclub and take girls back to the team hotel, leading to the publication of a kiss-and-tell involving one England player, has been widely condemned as inappropriate.

An RFU statement read: "The management board are concerned at the damage to the game's reputation as a result of the allegations made regarding the behaviour of four of the 32-strong touring party after the first Test match.

"The board noted that no formal complaint had yet been made to the Auckland police, that the players deny the allegations and that they have the full support of the England squad and team management in this respect."