Students at Harper Adams banned from playing rugby amid abuse claims

Students at Harper Adams University have been temporarily banned from playing rugby amid allegations of sexual and physical abuse at initiations.

The university, where the Princess Royal is chancellor, has been issued with an interim suspension order by the Student Rugby Football Union (SRFU) just days before students are set to return for the new academic year. 

It comes following allegations that students were forced to drink urine, were sexually assaulted with wine bottles, and endured lashings during rugby social events. 

The university carried out an internal investigation after a student lifted the lid on the abuse he suffered while at the Shropshire-based university. Four other students later came forward to support his claims.

The ban means students will not be able to engage in any organised rugby events, including competitions held by British Universities and Colleges Sport. 

Documents, seen by The Telegraph last month, involved claims from 'Student 'X', who reported the initiations to the university because he had concerns they were 'becoming dangerous'.

Initiations, also known as hazing or ragging, are events where student societies or sports teams coerce new students into dangerous and humiliating behaviours. They are often framed as a way to bond with the team or socially. 

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The institution admitted in its report that some students had been subjected to 'extreme activities' during initiations. But no further action had been taken as the students were no longer at the university. 

Rugby Football Union (RFU), the national governing body for rugby union in England, said it was 'deeply concerned' by the allegations and was 'yet to be reassured' that Harper Adams had improved student safeguarding measures. 

In a statement, a spokesperson told The Telegraph: 'Behaviour of this kind is completely unacceptable and has no place in our sport.

'The RFU has been in communication with the university since recently becoming aware of the allegations. The RFU and the Students Rugby Football Union (SRFU) are united in their concern for the actions of Harper Adams University in relation to this case and have yet to be reassured that the institution has undertaken action to correct behaviours and safeguard its players.'

Student 'X' claimed that 'horrific' acts were being brushed off by students as 'tradition' or a 'rite of passage'.

West Mercia Police reports show Student X claimed he was sexually assaulted during a 'pimps and hoes' night at a local pub by a member of the university rugby team.

Student X alleged he had cigarettes stubbed out on his body by rugby players on two occasions and that at one time, 'four to five cigarettes' were put out on his back.

He said he was forced to transfer to another university following the abuse.

Harper Adams, which was founded in 1901, is a specialist higher education institution for the studies of agriculture and farming. It offers over 50 foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.

All five of the students who were interviewed as part of the university's investigation, admitted to witnessing undergraduates being subjected to 'lashings', The Telegraph reported.

Two of the students witnessed alleged sexual assault, including one student who claimed he was the victim of sexual assault himself.

A student was allegedly witnessed being left hospitalised after livestock marker was sprayed in their eye, another received burns after being doused in hot curry sauce and another was allegedly 'stripped naked and abandoned in unknown locations'.

West Mercia police opened an investigation into the multiple claims made by Student X but later dropped the case because of insufficient evidence.

Harper Adams University has been contacted by MailOnline for comment.