rugby scandal

rugby scandal RUGBY league players at the centre of the Cronulla Sharks group sex scandal were running for cover yesterday, leaving Matthew Johns to face the shameful episode alone.

Sharks players from the 2002 night of shame in Christchurch denied they were in the hotel room despite a woman known as "Clare" claiming six players had sex with her while five watched.

Other players apparently could not recall yesterday who was in the room as rugby league's wall of silence went up.

This was despite a plea from Cronulla chairman Barry Pierce yesterday for those responsible to admit their part.

"Matthew Johns has been man enough to apologise for his actions and so too should all involved. I look back now appreciating that more should have been done on our part," Mr Pierce said.

Cronulla legend and then captain David Peachey denied any involvement or knowledge.

"I couldn't tell you who was in the room," Peachey said. "But I tell you right now I wasn't in the room."
Only Johns and former Sharks halfback Brett Firman have been identified as having sex with the then 19-year-old woman known as "Clare".

Present captain Paul Gallen has admitted walking into the room after the session was over.

Attempts were made yesterday to contact 14 members of the Sharks squad that travelled to New Zealand for a trial match against Penrith - but most had their mobile phones switched off.

Sharks hooker Preston Campbell said: "I wasn't part of it" and halfback Brett Kimmorley told Fox Sports he was out playing golf until late.

Lock Nick Graham also denied he was in the room.

Politicians also waded into the furore yesterday.

Federal Sport Minister Kate Ellis lambasted the male domination of sport, saying more women should be appointed to sporting boards.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called on all sporting codes to foster greater respect for women and backed the sidelining of Johns.

Ms Ellis said one of the ways to weed out a "culture of disrespect" towards women was to appoint women to key roles.

She was disgusted with Johns and the others involved.

"I found it disrespectful, degrading (and) predatory behaviour towards women, and I found that offensive."

Ms Ellis said she was determined to try to fix the behavioural problems that had rocked not only the National Rugby League, but other codes.

"I think it's really important we promote women within the sporting community and we have women in leadership positions," she said.

The Senate yesterday called on the Rudd Government to bring all sporting codes together to discuss a national code of conduct. The motion was put by Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young and it won broad support.

"We need to see a cultural change among the sporting community," she said.

"It's not appropriate to see women used as objects, it's not appropriate to turn our eyes away from issues of misconduct."

Former federal sex discrimination commissioner Pru Goward, now a NSW state Liberal MP, called on the other men involved to come forward.

Mr Pierce, who was Cronulla chairman in 2002 when the incident occurred, said the club looked back on the events of 2002 with a sense of shame and "extends its sympathies to the young lady in Christchurch".

But he said the club would not release names of players or staff interviewed by police in 2002.