Hampshire have U-turned on their controversial signing of New Zealand all-rounder Scott Kuggeleijn after a backlash from staff and fans.
Kuggeleijn, 34, had been confirmed as Hampshire’s new overseas signing on Tuesday, joining for the remaining four matches of the County Championship season. He had been named as part of the club’s 15-man squad for their crucial game against Warwickshire, with Hampshire desperate for a victory in their battle to avoid relegation.
However, Kuggeleijn’s arrival, which was only announced on Tuesday via a short article on Hampshire’s website and not on their social media platforms, sparked widespread anger given he had been accused, and subsequently acquitted, of raping a woman in 2015.
Kuggeleijn stood trial in Hamilton, New Zealand in 2016, after pleading not guilty but the jury was unable to reach a verdict, prompting a retrial the following year. In February 2017, the jury returned a not guilty verdict.
The New Zealand Herald reported at the time that Kuggeleijn told the court that the woman said “no” on the night the alleged incident took place. It also reported that, while giving evidence, Kuggeleijn said: “I tried (having sex) twice, like she might have said, ‘No, no’ a few times but it wasn’t dozens of times.” He also said the woman was “provocatively dressed” and “looking for male attention”.
Not long after Kuggeleijn was acquitted, he was booed by fans when he played a T20 international for New Zealand. In February 2023, Gary Stead, then the New Zealand coach, was forced to defend selecting Kuggeleijn in his Test squad for a series against England.
“I get given the players I can choose from and we have gone with a resilient character from a bowling point of view and he is a guy when you lose two key bowlers, you look around and ask who are the guys who can do a job for us internationally and he is one who can,” Stead told reporters in a press conference.
After their signing of Kuggeleijn, who plays first-class cricket for Northern Districts in New Zealand, provoked a deluge of online criticism, Hampshire released a statement on Wednesday morning.
It read: “Having reflected and listened to feedback from our staff and supporters. Hampshire Cricket can confirm that Scott Kuggeleijn will not represent the club.
“We value the passion of our fanbase and thank everyone who took the time to share their views. Our focus now turns to supporting the team through the final four County Championship fixtures of the season.”
In December 2019, after Kuggeleijn was called into the New Zealand T20 squad, he was asked by media outlet Stuff if he was aware of the opposition to his selection.
He replied: “I’m just trying to focus on my cricket … They can think what they want to think, but I’m just focusing on my cricket and enjoying my time here and that’s about it.”
Veronica Oakeshott, Head of External Affairs at Women’s Aid, told The Athletic: “We are consistently seeing men in power continue to be platformed despite having serious accusations made against them, whether those include domestic abuse, sexual violence or any other crimes against women.
“It is important that organisations — spanning sport, entertainment and politics — consider survivor experience as they decide who to endorse. These decisions have an impact beyond the game on individual women and wider society.
“We want survivors to know that they can find support if they need it and that Women’s Aid will continue to be there as a safe space for women and children.”
The Athletic contacted Hampshire for further comment.
