All Black coy on royal romance
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Phillips is Princess Anne's daughter.
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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) -- New Zealand All Black rugby union player Caleb Ralph visited Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter Zara Phillips in England but has declined to comment on speculation of a royal romance, according to newspaper reports.
Ralph, 26, said he had spent the Christmas-New Year holidays with Phillips, 22, who is Princess Anne's daughter.
"I have been in England and I did see her," a hesitant Ralph told a media briefing on Wednesday, later adding: "I just want to get on with training for the year. (The media interest) is just a hassle."
British media reported the All Black winger danced the night away with Phillips on New Year's Eve at a private party at the Princess Royal's Gatcombe Park Estate in Gloucestershire, and the next day both attended the races at Cheltenham.
Ralph, who is in pre-season training with Christchurch-based Super 12 team the Crusaders, said he was unaware of speculation of a pending visit to New Zealand by Phillips.
The pair met in Australia during the rugby union World Cup competition in November and spent three days sightseeing together, the New Zealand Herald newspaper reported.
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