RFU set to name England players in New Zealand hotel incident

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The inquiry may be delayed by an offer on behalf of the woman at the centre of the rape allegations to answer questions indirectly from the RFU's disciplinary officer, Judge Jeff Blackett.

Her legal representatives in Auckland revealed over the weekend that, after a fortnight of silence, she was 'prepared' to respond to questions put through her lawyer. Blackett said: 'Clearly, if she wants to talk to me I will do so, although I have not received that offer.'

Blackett is understood to have compiled an extensive dossier into what happened during the early hours of Sunday, June 15 after the girl went back to the England hotel with a member of the squad.

In her letter, the 18-year old alleges that she was 'sexually violated' by four players. On the field, All Blacks lock Brad Thorn has been banned for one match over an incident which also threatens to rule out South Africa captain John Smit from Saturday's Tri-Nations rematch in Dunedin.

Smit sustained a groin injury in the opening minutes of South Africa's 19-8 defeat in Wellington and told Australian referee Stuart Dickinson that he had been the victim of a spear tackle.

'I felt I was being used as a tent peg,' said Smit, referring to being picked up by Thorn and dropped.

However, judicial officer Dennis Wheelahan downgraded Thorn's offence to 'an act contrary to good sportsmanship rather than a dangerous tackle'.