Burgess under investigation

Former South Sydney league captain and England rugby international Sam Burgess and his team will be the subject of separate police and NRL investigations over misconduct and drug allegations.

It comes after a story in The Australian newspaper yesterday claimed the club covered up alleged domestic violence and drug use by Burgess, and a senior club staffer — the team doctor — helped in the cover- up.

Burgess, 31, who has been working as an assistant coach at the Rabbitohs, has denied the allegations.

In late 2014, Burgess switched codes to play rugby for Bath. He was called up to the England national team in August 2015, becoming a dual code international, and was a member of England’s squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

He played five test matches for England before returning to league for the 2016 NRL season.

New South Wales police and the NRL’s Integrity Unit launched investigations into the allegations.

In a statement, a NSW Police spokesperson said: “On Wednesday, September 30, officers from the Hume Police District 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.”

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the Integrity Unit would interview Rabbitohs officials.

“We will also seek the advice of police and other relevant authorities throughout this process,” Abdo said. “This is new information for the NRL and it is important we now gather the facts. The allegations have not yet been tested and due process will be followed as we undertake a thorough investigation.”

One of the allegations in The Australian said Burgess had to be injected with liquid tranquiliser after taking drugs, and failed doping tests which were reportedly covered up by the Rabbitohs by using fake identities to hide positive tests for the illegal substances.

The report also claims Burgess assaulted his pregnant wife, Phoebe Burgess, in November 2018 in front of her father, Mitch Hooke. The couple divorced in April this year.

Burgess’ lawyer Mark O’Brien has strongly denied the claims.

“The allegations are false and constitute an indefensible defamation against my client,” O’Brien told Australian.