The Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed the person alleged to have made a comment about rape involving a female colleague will continue in their role pending an independent investigation.
A string of allegations concerning sexist, racist and homophobic abuse emerged last week concerning a 'toxic culture' at the WRU, with one of the most shocking being the claim of former WRU general manager of women's rugby Charlotte Wathan that a male colleague had said he wanted to rape her. As part of her claims, it was also alleged the man, who is still employed by the union, was not interviewed as part of an investigation alongside other key witnesses.
Following that allegation which was aired in a BBC documentary last Monday night, the WRU said it had previously hired an external legal expert to probe Ms Wathan's grievance and that it found the claims to be unsubstantiated - meaning it had not been proven either way. The union also insisted that the man alleged to have made the comment was eventually interviewed.
The union added it could not respond further to due to the confidentiality terms of the settlement agreement signed by both the governing body and Ms Wathan in December which ended a looming employment tribunal.
However, the growing outrage over the allegations in the following week has led to an independent taskforce being set up to investigate the union, while CEO Steve Phillips resigned from his post on Sunday. WRU chair Ieuan Evans and interim CEO Nigel Walker faced the media on Monday morning, where both were asked whether the claims would be looked at again and if that could result in an individual being suspended.
However, Walker confirmed that they would comply with the taskforce, but the person involved would be treated as innocent until proven guilty.
"Just to endorse what Ieuan said, a well-known law firm, one of the biggest in Wales, investigated the allegation, they came to a view they couldn't substantiate the claim, and that investigation if required by the taskforce will be turned over to them. They can look at it and they can say if it needs to be investigated again," said Walker.
"If this person needs to be interviewed or that person needs to be interviewed, we will comply with it, we're opening up our shop, no question is off the table, they can have access to everything.
"Until somebody is found guilty they are innocent, it's still an alleged comment because it couldn't be substantiated.
"If we are asked to provide the investigation, we will provide the investigation. That investigation was conducted by an expert in their field, I can't say any more than that.
"I've not seen the investigation and if I had I'm not qualified to say that was a good investigation. The panel will have a look, it may well be requested to see it and we would let them see it."
Who will win the Six Nations? Vote in our poll below
When asked whether the person alleged to have made the comment would be suspended pending investigation and if not, why that wasn't the case, Evans said: "I sat watching that programme and I found it a harrowing experience. I'm a father of two young women and that's something I never want to experience again, watching that programme with the allegations made.
"It got investigated and we've now employed a taskforce to investigate all the evidence there. We now need to leave that at arm's length. We made the decision to allow an independent panel with an independent chair to look at everything with the cultures and behaviours within the organisation. We await the recommendations."
Read more:
Welsh player contract talks finally start and All Black comes out as gay
Jiffy calls out 'absolute shambles' and asks Nigel Walker key question live on TV
