Sale Sharks have suspended a player after an England international was arrested on suspicion of the rape of a teenager.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was held on Sunday, while a 41-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of administering a substance with intent to cause a sexual offence.
Both have been released on bail while detectives continue investigating.
In a short statement, the Premiership side said: ‘Sale Sharks have been made aware of an allegation against one of its players and the subsequent arrest of that player by Greater Manchester Police on Sunday 9th January 2022.
‘The player in question has been suspended by Sale Sharks until further notice and is currently cooperating with police officers to assist in their investigation.
‘As this matter is subject to a legal process there will be no further comment at this time.’ The teenager is currently being supported by specialist officers.
Sale Sharks have announced the suspension of a player after an England international was arrested for the rape of a teenager
The Premiership side said that the player in question has been suspended until further notice
Meanwhile, Danny Cipriani’s wife has described the couple’s anger after being wrongly linked with the arrest.
Victoria, 41, a mental health campaigner who wed the Bath fly half, 34, last year, told of her ‘great alarm and distress’ at being approached about the incident on Wednesday morning.
Posting on social media, she suggested journalists had made a ‘wild guess’ because she was the same age as the woman who was arrested alongside the unidentified rugby player.
A spokesperson for police said: ‘Officers were called shortly before 11am on Sunday 9 January 2022, to a report of a sexual assault on a female. A woman in her late teens was reported to have been sexually assaulted. She is currently being supported by specialist officers. A man was arrested on suspicion of rape and a woman was arrested on suspicion of administering a substance with intent to cause a sexual offence.
‘Both have since been released on bail as enquiries continue and a number of lines of enquiry are being followed up by detectives.’
The latest development comes after Danny Cipriani’s wife, Victoria (L), told of her ‘great alarm and distress’ at being approached about the incident
She suggested journalists had wrongly drawn a link because she was the same age as the woman who was arrested alongside the unidentified rugby player
