Rugby League: Bulldogs 'victim' breaks silence

SYDNEY - A 43-year-old mother at the centre of Canterbury Bulldogs sex allegations a year ago has broken her silence, saying she was begged by club officials not to go to police.

Her revelations in a Sydney newspaper yesterday add even more pressure on the rugby league club, whose players started interviews with police yesterday after allegations that a 20-year-old woman was gang-raped at Coffs Harbour's Pacific Bay Resort on February 21.

The 43-year-old claims to have been attacked at the same hotel in February last year, during a Bulldogs' pre-season trip.

She told the Daily Telegraph the club had begged her not to go public, telling her: "We guarantee you they will not get away with it. They will be punished."

Instead she told police she had consensual sex with a player in his room but was later attacked by another player who initiated sex while she was sleeping.

The Director of Public Prosecutions eventually decided not to proceed as it was unlikely a conviction would result.

The woman told the newspaper she now wanted to make public the club's attitude in the light of the new rape allegations against Bulldogs players.

She said that days after the alleged attack a senior Bulldogs' official telephoned her to check if she intended going to the police.

One of the players involved also called her, telling her that his career and personal life would be destroyed if she went ahead with police action.

He urged her to let the matter rest but she made a police statement claiming she was sexually assaulted in a room by one player while another watched and masturbated.

Although charges were not laid, the woman last year lodged a victim's compensation claim, seeking compensation for her ordeal.

She said that since hearing of the latest alleged rape she had been a physical and mental wreck as visions of her own ordeal recurred.

"It has brought it all back again," woman said. "I'm not able to sleep. Some days I am crying at the drop of a hat, yelling and screaming for no reason."

A National Rugby League investigation into the Bulldogs will be expanded to include her claims.

NRL chief executive David Gallop said yesterday that he was unaware of the woman's claims over the club's handling of the matter.

"That's certainly a major concern. It's not something that we were aware of that had happened," he said.

"Obviously we did keep in contact with the police and the club during that episode and the police ultimately decided not to press charges."

Gallop said the new claims would be included in the NRL's own investigation into the Bulldogs' behaviour.

"Certainly, we'll look at this matter as we're looking at the current episode," he said.

Speaking before last night's 2004 season launch, a dismayed Gallop said the NRL had the power to de-register any player convicted of a criminal offence, while fines for the club were an option.

"This has put a large shadow over what was a good feeling in our game going into the 2004 season. We need to weigh up the extent of that damage."

- NZPA