Sale suspend England international arrested over rape allegation
An England rugby international arrested over the alleged rape of a teenager has been suspended by club side Sale, the English Premiership outfit announced Wednesday.
A 29 year-old, who is understood not to be a current member of Eddie Jones's England squad, was held in Manchester on Sunday following reports of an attack at a nightclub the day before.
In a statement issued earlier Wednesday, Greater Manchester Police said the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been arrested on suspicion of an alleged attack on a woman "in her late teens" in the Openshaw area of Manchester.
Sale later revealed they had been "made aware of an allegation against one of its players and the subsequent arrest of that player by Greater Manchester Police on Sunday".
Their statement added: "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 police confirming the report of an incident, said: "Officers were called shortly before 11:00 am (1100 GMT) on Sunday 9 January 2022 to a report of a sexual assault on a female on Thorpeness Square in Manchester.
"A woman in her late teens was reported to have been sexually assaulted. She is currently being supported by specialist officers.
"A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape and a 41-year-old 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."
