Rape inquiry goes on as Huddersfield Giants return home

Jan 21 2010 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD Giants were expected back in town tonight – with rape allegations hanging over six of the players.

Six of the Super League squad were arrested by police in Newcastle after allegations of a sex attack by a 22-year-old woman.

The players, who have not been named, were all released on bail and were expected to be training with the rest of the squad again today at their base in the north-east, as they had done yesterday.

But the inquiry into what allegedly happened in the Gosforth area of Newcastle early on Tuesday has left coach Nathan Brown and his staff “gutted”.

Brown said: “We have got to stick together and push through as best as we can.

“We had hoped to come up to Newcastle for four days of quality work – and as you can imagine, that has been very difficult.”

The coach spoke briefly last night to confirm that the team were to return to Huddersfield after training today on the all-weather Complete Football complex at Gosforth Park.

It is only a short drive from the Marriott Hotel in Gosforth where the Giants have been based and where the police began their investigations into the allegations about Tuesday’s attack.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: “Northumbria Police can confirm that a 22-year-old woman has made an allegation of rape following an incident in Gosforth, Newcastle, in the early hours of January 19.

“Six men have been arrested and are currently helping with inquiries.

“All six have now been bailed pending further inquiries.”

Speaking from the team’s training base, Giants’ managing director Richard Thewlis said speculation was “frivolous.”