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English county cricket club Hampshire have performed a rapid about-turn on their decision to sign a player who stood trial for rape, and reneged on the deal after a backlash from staff and fans. Scott Kuggeleijn, the New Zealand international, was named in their squad to face Warwickshire this week,despite the club not announcing his signing on social media. Clubs typically launch a publicity drive for any new signing, but Hampshire only posted a short article on their website saying he had been recruited for the final four matches of the season. Kuggeleijn, 34, has never appeared in county cricket. There have been protests over his involvement in international cricket after being charged with sexual violation by rape and indecent assault involving two separate complainants in 2015. The first trial, in 2016, resulted in a hung jury. He was acquitted at a second trial a year later. At 10.25am on Wednesday (local time), with the toss delayed, Hampshire confirmed they would not be selecting Kuggeleijn amid a fierce backlash. Instead, the county went into the match with players who had already represented them this season. A statement 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. We encourage everyone to unite behind the team as we enter a crucial stage of the campaign.” Hampshire are enduring a dismal season and are rooted to the bottom of Division One of the County Championship. Sign up to Herald Premium Editor’s Picks, delivered straight to your inbox every Friday. Editor-in-Chief Murray Kirkness picks the week’s best features, interviews and investigations. Sign up for Herald Premium here.