Princess Anne-backed university banned from rugby following abuse allegations

Founded in 1901, the university has around 5,000 students and is the fourth-largest university in the UK in terms of agricultural and forestry courses. Eleven years ago, it appointed the Princess of England as its first chancellor.

The Telegraph has received evidence that Harper Adams' freshmen classes will go ahead as planned when the fall semester begins next week.

The university's internal investigation into the assault allegations suggested that a vicious cycle of abuse existed at Harper Adams University, with older members of the rugby club bullying their younger peers.

The alumnus at the centre of the investigation, known as Student X, claimed he saw three fellow students being sexually assaulted with a wine bottle as part of a ritual that took place on buses returning from rugby matches.

Rugby players have also been accused of forcing younger players to drink from “The Baby” – a bucket full of alcohol and “bodily fluids”, including vomit and urine.

Student X claimed that he was forced by his classmates to drink several pints of it at rugby club social events, which made him feel sick.

Other allegations raised during the investigation: One student was hospitalized after being sprayed in the eye with animal marrow; one student suffered burns to his head after being doused with spicy curry sauce; and another was “stripped naked and left in an unknown location.”

West Mercia Police launched an investigation into Student X's numerous claims, but later closed the case due to insufficient evidence.

Harper Adams introduced a respect policy in 2021 – before the alleged abuse incidents occurred – that included an updated code of conduct for students.

The measures include the ability of the student union to limit or stop funding for clubs or societies that display unacceptable behaviour.

The RFU has previously suspended rugby at other universities due to poor student behaviour. In 2019, men's rugby at the University of South Wales was banned for an entire season after allegations of “abusive” and “unacceptable” behaviour.

The incident follows increasing reports in recent years of dangerous behaviour at initiation rituals for university sports clubs, which have often involved rugby teams and agricultural universities.

The RFU stated that “universities and colleges receive regular education and guidance on behaviour, including this year through the Higher Education Behaviours Charter, a joint charter with BUCS, the SRFU and other national unions”.

“Agreement to comply with the charter is a condition of membership of the SRFU and participation in BUCS rugby union competitions,” a spokesman told The Telegraph.

Anyone wishing to report an issue relating to university rugby is encouraged to do so via the anonymous reporting platform ‘SpeakUp’.

A Harper Adams spokesperson said: “We were contacted by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in August this year regarding the Harper Adams University (HAU) investigation following incidents reported to us in 2021.

“Since then, together with the HAU Student Union, we have been in active dialogue with the RFU, to whom we have provided full details of the measures taken before and after the investigation. This dialogue is ongoing and we will meet with the RFU next Monday to discuss the additional best practice approaches that they recommend we implement.”