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The New Zealand Rugby League has been given little information by police investigating a sexual assault complaint against members of the Kiwis team and has been asked to provide little.
The complaint was made after the team's departure from the Angus Inn Hotel in Lower Hutt, where players
and management stayed for the centenary test against Australia last weekend. The Kiwis lost the test 58-0.
So far, no details of the alleged sexual assault, which was reported on Monday morning after the team had left Wellington for Britain, have been released.
Police have told NZRL officials they are not in a position to divulge more because the investigation is only in its early stage.
The NZRL said yesterday that it had helped police with information requested but so far that had amounted to little more than the team's itinerary.
It could not act until further information became available and at this stage there was no evidence to further an investigation of players' behaviour or take action against anyone.
NZRL chairman Andrew Chalmers and vice-chairman Phil Campbell are with the team in Leeds, where the Kiwis are preparing for a test against Great Britain next weekend.
The last serious incidents involving the Kiwis were in 1989, when wing Dave Ewe was sent home for repeated episodes of binge drinking, then three players were arrested for disturbing the peace in Spain.
Meanwhile a rape crisis centre wants all players in the Kiwis to sign up to a code of conduct to ensure they respect women.
Rape Prevention Education director Kim McGregor said a similar code was used for Australian football players to keep them in check.
"It talks about preventing violence against women and players' responsibilities to learn about the problem, to listen to women, to challenge sexist language.
"Then there are aspects on consent ... simple things like when she's conscious, able to make a decision about free agreement (not affected by drugs or alcohol).
"We'd like all sports teams to sign up to a code of conduct and have ongoing education."
Allegations of sexual assaults against rugby league players have surfaced in Australia, with at least two cases in front of the courts at the moment.
Massey University sports psychologist Gary Hermansson said there seemed to be an element of league culture - though it was more visible in Australia than in New Zealand - that condoned a certain treatment of women.
"But there is also the matter of dealing with a humiliating defeat. It's almost like an emotional bruise and causes them to lose judgment around what is acceptable and what isn't - Doug Howlett a case in point."
The All Black was arrested in London recently for a drunken incident after the loss to France in the rugby World Cup. He vandalised two cars outside the Hilton Hotel.
