Rugby players accused of 'groping and indecently assaulting girls'

Club rugby players from Taranaki have been accused of "disgusting" behaviour at a local bar after losing their regional finals. / 123RF

Club rugby players have been accused of "disgusting" behaviour at a local bar after losing their regional finals.

Katy Wilson said on Facebook - in a post now removed - that players and supporters of Taranaki's Coastal Rugby Club were "caught groping and indecently assaulting girls" and charging at bouncers at a New Plymouth bar, according to Fairfax.

She reportedly wrote: "I don't care if you got to the top of rugby for Taranaki premier league or even if it was the All Blacks your behaviour last night was absolutely disgraceful.

"Behaviour like this ruins the night of other bar patrons, and it's not OK for this to happen in the Taranaki community."

Taranaki Rugby Football Union chief executive Mike Collins told the Herald he had been in contact with the woman who made the complaints.

"We have reached out to listen to the concerns of a member of the public. We are treating the allegations seriously and investigating those allegations."

Coastal Rugby Club chairman Brent Davies said he had been made aware of the allegations and was trying to find out what, if anything, had happened.

"I've been doing some inquiries. The timelines just do not match up," he said.

"We're still looking into it."

He had spoken to the players but would not make any further comments.

The team lost to Tukapa 17-14 in the Taranaki Club Rugby Finals at New Plymouth's Yarrow Stadium on Saturday.