Troubled rugby squad back home

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Two crushing defeats by the All Blacks were overshadowed by allegations of serious sexual assault against four players.

The players, under instructions not to comment, made their way through Terminal 4's arrivals area. Rob Andrew, the RFU's director of elite rugby, said: "We are pleased to be back."

Asked if the tour was "a bit of a nightmare all round", he told reporters: "Look, we have got to wait and see what happens. We are still part of an on-going police inquiry. As far as the players are concerned, we have to support them in this."

He said lawyers had advised him not to name the four players involved in the alleged incident.

New Zealand police said they were investigating after an 18-year-old woman made claims of sexual assault or rape against four England players. But in the absence of an official complaint from the woman, the four were free to leave the country.

The incident allegedly took place at the team hotel in Auckland on the night after the first Test, which the All Blacks won 37-20. The players refused to speak to detectives after taking legal advice but vigorously denied the allegations.

In response to the scandal, England rugby bosses announced a new set of standards for the players, including a clause preventing them bringing women back to the team hotel.

Mr Andrew added: "Moving forward we have to look at the protocols for players. We have to look at some of the issues that have not been addressed in the past, like curfews and women at the team hotels.

"There has never been a protocol around that - there has not needed to be - but we have to educate the players to the risks they are taking sometimes."