Sam Burgess has stood down as assistant coach of South Sydney as the NRL and NSW Police launch an investigation into serious misconduct claims.
The NRL was shocked by allegations published in The Australian on Friday and has instructed its integrity unit to speak to South Sydney officials.
The newspaper report alleged drug use and domestic violence by the former Rabbitohs captain, behaviour which was then alleged to have been covered up by the famous NRL club.
Burgess, an integral part of Souths’ NRL premiership success in 2014, denies the allegations.
His lawyer told The Australian “the allegations are false and constitute indefensible defamation against my client”.
South Sydney are yet to comment.
The 31-year-old has also stood down from his role with Fox Sports as a rugby league analyst, confirming so in a one-line statement.
“I have today stood down from all work commitments,” Burgess said.
Speaking on Friday, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the seriousness of the allegations have forced an immediate investigation.
However, no action will be taken on Burgess or the South Sydney club on allegations alone.
It comes just two days before Souths play a sudden-death finals match against Newcastle at ANZ Stadium.
“We’re not going to take action against allegations, however, I believe that Sam Burgess has stood himself down from South Sydney Rabbitohs duties this weekend and I also believe he has stood down from Fox Sports as well,” Abdo said hours before the NRL’s finals series kicks off in Sydney.
“(The timing is) obviously disappointing. We’ve worked so hard this season to get to where we are and we want the focus to be on the football, however, these are really serious matters and serious allegations.
“We will put all our resources into getting to the bottom of what occurred.”
The NRL was shocked to learn of the allegations late on Thursday night as the report was published online.
Abdo said the NRL would take as long as needed to get to the truth.
“This is new information to us. We will act on it, we will investigate and take the appropriate action,” Abdo said.
“We have a track record of doing this and we will continue to do it.
“It’s important that people feel safe and it’s important that we take our responsibility in society very seriously.
“However, we need to let the course of justice flow and make sure that any allegations are tested before we decide what actions are appropriate.”
Burgess was medically retired by South Sydney in 2019 with a chronic shoulder injury that ended his 182-game NRL career.
He has since worked in a development role with the club and this season became an assistant to coach Wayne Bennett.
The Englishman famously led the Rabbitohs to the 2014 premiership in a 30-6 victory over Canterbury.
It was a historic night for the club and Burgess, who broke his eye socket and cheekbone in the first hit up but played on to claim the Clive Churchill Medal.