One of Japan's most prestigious university rugby football clubs was embroiled in a sex scandal yesterday when three of its players were arrested on suspicion of attempting to kidnap and molest a young woman.
The three second-year students at a high-profile private university near the ancient city of Kyoto are accused of ambushing a 20-year-old woman on her way home in Kyoto's southern suburbs on April 30, a police spokesman said.
"They are suspected of trying to drag the woman into a vehicle by wrapping their arms around her neck and other means, with an intent to molest her," he said. "The suspects fled the scene as the woman screamed for help."
Yuki Toyoda, 20, and his two 19-year-old teammates belong to the Doshisha University Rugby Football Club, which was established in 1911 and is the country's third oldest rugby team.
Minors
The identities of the 19-year-olds were withheld because they are minors under Japanese law.
The woman filed a criminal complaint with police and their investigation led to the arrest.
According to media reports, the suspects denied any intention of kidnapping her and insisted they aimed to consensually "pick her up."
Doshisha University said it was "keeping a watch on police action" and would also look into the case itself.
The rugby football club won the national collegiate title three straight times in the 1980s, a feat unprecedented and not repeated so far. It has produced such national stars as Seiji Hirao, a veteran of three Rugby World Cups in 1987, 1991 and 1995 and a former national coach.
web site
The club temporarily shut down its official Web site, on which suspect Toyoda was listed as a fullback.
"The rugby club is closing its homepage while examining the case," Doshisha University spokeswoman Chihiro Sumitani said.
Japanese university students, particularly athletes, have been embroiled in a number of scandals over mistreating women.
Last year, three members of the American football club at the state-run Kyoto University were arrested for allegedly raping two female students after getting them drunk.
The three were expelled from the university and one handed a prison term, which he has appealed.
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