ZCZC
BSP-06
RUGBYL-AUS-ENG-BURGESS
Police, NRL probe drugs, violence claims against England ace Burgess
SYDNEY, Oct 2, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Australian police and the National Rugby
League (NRL) have launched investigations into allegations of drugs, violence
and a cover-up involving former England star Sam Burgess and the South Sydney
Rabbitohs, officials said Friday.
Burgess, through his lawyer, has denied the claims, which included the need
for a liquid tranquiliser after a drug-fuelled binge, failed drugs tests and
violence against his former wife during his years with the Russell Crowe-
owned club.
The allegations surfaced in a report Friday in The Australian newspaper
that revealed pharmaceutical records, statements to police, witness accounts,
emails, text messages and bank records detailing the behaviour of the former
South Sydney Rabbitohs captain.
The newspaper said the club allegedly used fake identities to cover up
positive tests for the use of illegal substances by its star player.
It claimed that after one drug-fuelled episode in 2018, he was injected
with liquid tranquilliser from a prescription in another person’s name.
“These allegations are very serious and I’ve instructed the Integrity Unit
to investigate the claims as a priority,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo
said.
New South Wales police issued a brief statement saying they had received a
report “outlining various allegations relating to the conduct of a 31-year-
old man.”
“Police have commenced inquiries, however as these inquiries are in their
infancy there will be no further comment made at this time.”
Burgess, 31, spent most of his playing career in Australia with South
Sydney while also playing 24 rugby league matches for England and, in a brief
code-switch, playing five rugby union Tests for England, including at the
2015 World Cup.
The Australian report said Phoebe Burgess, who split from her husband in
2018, had informed Crowe of her husband’s behaviour.
In a statement to police, obtained by the newspaper, she said she had been
subjected to “physical violence as well as emotional and psychological
abuse”.
The NRL is undergoing a “culture review” following a series of incidents
over many years involving players being accused of domestic violence and
mistreatment of women.
The accusations levelled at Burgess would be subjected to “a thorough
investigation”, Abdo said.
“There is no place in our game for violence, harassment or abuse against
women. If anyone is found guilty of these allegations we will take the
strongest possible action.”
Since his retirement at the end of last year, Burgess has been retained by
South Sydney as a development coach.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0954 hrs