South African police say there is no evidence that a former rugby player arrested over three axe murders had killed his victims to avenge the gang-rape of his daughter.

Media reports said the 34-year-old man, who played in the national Vodacom and Currie Cup competitions for the Blue Bulls, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly decapitating one victim and hacking two others to death in a vengeance killing after the gang-rape and HIV infection of his daughter.

But police spokesman Vincent Mdunge on Thursday said the man, whose name has not been released pending an ID parade, did not have a daughter who had been raped.

"Rape has been ruled out," Mdunge said.

A fourth victim who said he had escaped an axe attack last week told the Cape Argus newspaper he had been confronted by a man who accused him of raping and infecting his daughter.