London, June 21 : English rugby bosses have banned its players from having female guests in their rooms while on tour, following rape allegations on a few members of the English team.

The condition will be written into their contracts from next month by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

The ban has come too late to prevent the reputation of English rugby being sullied by allegations that four players were involved in the rape of an 18-year-old girl in a New Zealand hotel room.

The claims have been vehemently denied by the players, and they're set to fly home at the weekend with the rest of the squad after the alleged victim declined to make a formal complaint to police.

The players have refused to meet detectives who had travelled to Christchurch to interview them, after being told by legal advisers that they were not obliged to give statements unless the alleged victim decided to press charges.

They are free to leave New Zealand, but they may find their England careers are over, as Martin Johnson, the head coach who has stayed at home for the birth of his baby, is said to be furious at tales of all-night drinking and casual sex, which have overshadowed the tour.

"This is distressing to all who love English rugby and that makes us more determined to do all we can to make sure it never happens again," the Telegraph quoted Francis Baron, the chief executive of the RFU, as saying.

ANI