The former Sheffield United striker Ched Evans’ conviction for raping a 19-year-old woman is to be reviewed by leading judges on 22 March.

His case has been referred to the court of appeal in London by the Criminal Cases Review Commission which investigates possible miscarriages of justice.

The CCRC announced last October that new evidence had emerged in the case.

The former Welsh international was convicted in April 2012 after being found guilty at Caernarfon crown court of raping the woman at a hotel in Rhyl.

Evans was released from prison in 2014 after serving half of his five-year sentence and court of appeal judges will now consider the safety of his conviction.

The referral to appeal judges followed a 10-month investigation by the commission. When the decision was announced, the CCRC chair Richard Foster said: “The decision of the commission is not a judgment on guilt or innocence in relation to Ched Evans, nor is it a judgment about the honesty or integrity of the victim or any other person involved in the case.

“Our role is to consider applications to see if, in our judgment, there is any basis on which to ask the court to hear a fresh appeal – that is our statutory responsibility.

“In this case we have identified new material which was not considered by the jury at trial and which, in our view, might have assisted the defence.

“In those circumstances, it is right and proper for the matter to be before the court so that they can decide whether or not the new information should affect the verdict in this case.”

Evans previously lost his case at the court of appeal in 2012.