He's now been charged.
The NRL star has been charged over an alleged incident in Sydney earlier this month.
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St George Illawarra Dragons forward George Burgess has been charged with sexually touching another person without consent and will face court next month.
The big Englishman fronted media on Monday morning before police ordered him to be interviewed over the incident, which is alleged to have occurred in Sydney earlier this month.
He told the Dragons he would deny the allegations and was then arrested at 4.40pm at Mascot Police Station.
NSW Police released a holding statement on Monday night, which said: “A man has been charged over an alleged sexual touching earlier this month.
“Earlier this month, officers from South Sydney Police Area Command commenced an investigation following reports a woman had been sexually touched by a man known to her on Tuesday 8 March 2022.
“Following inquiries, a 29-year-old man was arrested at Mascot Police Station about 4.40pm today (Monday 21 March 2022).
“He was charged with sexually touch another person without consent and granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 13 April 2022.”
The
Herald contacted Burgess for comment during the day. His England-based manager Chris Caisley could also not be reached for comment.
The NRL and the Dragons were caught completely off guard by the allegations when notified on Monday, prompting St George Illawarra to release a statement which read: “The St George Illawarra Dragons have been made aware of a matter involving one of its players by the NRL integrity unit.
“The Dragons are working closely with all parties, as the matter is under police investigation. The Dragons will be making no further comment at this stage.”
Burgess, who won the 2014 South Sydney premiership with brothers Sam and Tom, is due to play in the Dragons’ local derby against Cronulla at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium on Thursday night.
He expressed his delight at returning to the NRL after an almost three-year absence and the excitement at the prospect of a first clash wearing the Red V against bitter rivals Cronulla.
According to sources, Burgess professed his innocence before being interviewed by police. He is the father of three children with wife, Joanna.
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin declined to comment on whether Burgess would be selected for the match on Thursday night. St George Illawarra will announce a 24-man squad on Tuesday.
NRL clubs are bound to report integrity matters involving their players once they become aware of them, but St George Illawarra officials were told of the police interest in Burgess by the code’s integrity unit.
The alleged incident happened only two days before the start of the NRL season opener between the Panthers and Sea Eagles. Burgess’ first match was a NSW Cup fixture a couple of days later before his round two call-up to the NRL. The Dragons did not train the day in question.
Burgess, who resides in Wollongong, made his Dragons debut last weekend after being handed an NRL lifeline by the club on a cut-price deal and following major hip resurfacing surgery, which threatened his career. He became the first league player in the world to return from the major hip procedure.
The Dragons stood by former State of Origin player Jack de Belin through his high-profile sexual assault trial before two juries failed to reach a verdict on five of the six charges against him, and found him not guilty of the sixth.
De Belin was sidelined from the NRL for more than two years under the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy before being cleared to return to the field last year after his criminal proceedings had finished.
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