Topsy Ojo and Mike Brown have been fined and reprimanded after being found guilty of misconduct on England's recent tour of New Zealand, following a report by Judge Jeff Blackett, the disciplinary officer of the Rugby Football Union. Ojo was fined £500 and reprimanded after he was found to have stayed out all night, while Brown was fined £1,000 and reprimanded after also staying out all night and arriving late for a physiotherapist appointment.

David Strettle and Danny Care were found not guilty of misconduct on the tour. Ojo, Brown and Care were at the centre of sex allegations following England's 37-20 defeat by the All Blacks in Auckland. But no official complaint was made against the players, who denied any wrongdoing. Strettle was not in the list of people the New Zealand police wished to interview, Blackett explained. "All the players I have interviewed vehemently deny any criminal wrongdoing and I have seen or heard no evidence which has been tested to gainsay those denials," said Blackett.

Blackett's full report added that "the image of England rugby has been damaged by some of the press reports and speculation. While many media commentators have been measured in the way they reported the allegations, some of the press speculation has been irresponsible and wildly inaccurate. It is the irresponsible reporting which has done more to damage the image of England rugby rather than any actual events themselves and I hope that those responsible will redress the balance in reporting these findings."

Blackett also said it was "unwise" for the England squad to share the same hotel as members of the press. "Further tour parties should consider the wisdom of allowing certaining members of the press such inadvertent access," he noted.

The stand-in England manager Rob Andrew has come in for criticism from sections of the media for his handling of the players while on tour, but Blackett said the tour management should not be blamed because it was "entirely reasonable for the tour management to agree to post-match arrangements", and they were "entitled to expect the players to respect those arrangements and act responsibly". "Although, in retrospect, it may have been prudent for the tour management to have repeatedly throughout the tour reminded the players that they would be in the media spotlight and must therefore be on their guard at all times, it would be unfair for the management to be blamed for any perceived indiscipline or misconduct," he said.

Blackett was also critical of Chapman Tripp, the firm of solicitors in Auckland representing the woman involved in the alleged incident, whose letter to the RFU was leaked to media outlets in New Zealand. "Chapman Tripp's letter has also constrained the way in which I have been able to conclude this inquiry, and that is particularly unsatisfactory," said Blackett.

In concluding his report, Blackett summarised that "without any credible and tested evidence of serious wrongdoing it is impossible to gainsay the players' own accounts of what occurred. This case has thus boiled down to no more than errors of judgement by young players on their first or second major international tour which are insufficient in themselves to effect future England selection. No doubt in the past England players on tour have stayed out too late, drunk excessive quantities of alcohol, invited guests back to the team hotel and missed physiotherapist appointments or training the next morning. But such activity is now inconsistent with the life of an elite professional rugby player in the modern era and with membership of a team seeking to be the best in the world."

Blackett on the EPS Code of Conduct

"Players who attended this tour were not given a specific code of conduct. However, all players who were members of the EPS squad announced in January 2008 were given a copy of the EPS Code of Conduct. That states that:

'The player is aware that he is representing England at all times and that the highest standards are expected in appearance, conduct and behaviour.'

The Code of Conduct sets out a number of obligations for the players including that they are to set a positive example to others, particularly young players and supporters, at all times in all aspects of being a professional rugby player such as physical appearance and demeanour.

Ojo, Care and Brown were not members of the EPS squad announced in January and they did not receive a copy of the Code of Conduct. They said that they did, however, understand that as England players they should not do anything which may bring the Game or Union into disrepute."

· Click here to read Blackett's report in full