3 Oct 2011

English rugby team members reprimanded

5:34 am on 3 October 2011

The English rugby team says three players have been reprimanded for their treatment of a female hotel worker in the South Island.

The woman, 23, who is in New Zealand on a gap year, says the three players, James Haskell, Dylan Hartley, and Chris Ashton, shouted comments of a sexual nature at her, and filmed her, during their stay in Dunedin.

England team manager Martin Johnson admits he was angry at the players, who had thought it was light hearted humour, but then realised they overstepped the mark.

He says he investigated the incident, which happened three weeks ago, and the players were reprimanded at the time.

Mr Johnson says it had not been clear how upset the hotel worker was at the time, and he had thought the apology given then had ended the matter.