Sale suspend player after England international arrested on suspicion of rape

The premiership club confirmed the player was one of theirs

Sale Sharks have suspended an England international after he was arrested on suspicion of the rape of a teenager. It was reported on Tuesday that the 29-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was quizzed by police on Sunday. A 41-year-old woman was also held on suspicion of administering a substance with intent to cause a sexual offence, according to the Mail Online. Premiership club Sale issued a statement confirming the player was one of theirs on Wednesday evening. Both parties have since been released on bail as detectives continue their investigations. After the arrests, a police spokesperson said: "Officers were called shortly before 11am on Sunday January 9 to a report of a sexual assault on a female.

"A woman in her late teens was reported to have been sexually assaulted.

"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." https://twitter.com/SaleSharksRugby/status/1481317551405551616 A short statement from the Rugby 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 January 9 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."

It comes after the wife of Danny Cipriani, Victoria Rose, had released a statement describing her upset at being wrongly linked to the investigation. She said: "A load of journalist have turned up outside my home this morning, causing me great alarm and distress, guessing (wrongly) that the story already in some parts of the press about a rugby player and his partner on suspicion of sexual offences might relate to Danny and myself. "I presume they are making that wild guess because I am the same age as the woman is reported to be in the stories about that case. "This is completely unwarranted and wholly unacceptable. Neither Danny nor myself have been arrested, nor do we have anything to do with the reported case, whatsoever. We do not know anything about it. The press have come to the wrong people and I would ask they leave us alone, immediately." Related links: 

• Danny Cipriani’s wife releases statement denying links to England rugby player’s arrest
• England international rugby union player arrested on suspicion of the rape of a teenager
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