The NRL has allowed George Burgess to keep playing for St George Illawarra while he faces police charges after confirmation he will not be subjected to the no-fault stand-down policy.
Burgess, 29, is facing a charge of sexual touching without consent following an alleged incident in a Sydney home earlier this month.
He was stood down from playing last weekend but will be available for selection in St George Illawarra’s clash against the Eels on Sunday night.
The NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy is automatically triggered for serious criminal offences carrying a jail time of 11 years or more.
Chief executive Andrew Abdo can use his discretionary power to apply it for lesser charges but didn’t in this instance.
“The decision in no way forms a judgment on the allegations against Burgess which are serious and the NRL reserves the right to impose a no-fault stand-down in the future,” the NRL said in a statement.
St George Illawarra also released a statement saying the club acknowledged the NRL’s decision to not enforce the no-fault stand down policy.
“Burgess will continue to train with the team and be considered for first grade selection,” the statement said.
“Out of the respect to the legal process now under way, the club will make no further comment until the matter is concluded.”
Burgess is due to face court on April 13 after the incident was reported by a woman to Mascot police earlier in March.
“Earlier this month, officers from the South Sydney Police Area Command commenced an investigation following reports a woman has been sexually toucxjmtzywhed by a man known to her on Tuesday, March 8,” a police statement last Monday said.
“Following inquiries, a 29-year-old man was arrested at Mascot Police Station about 4.40pm
“He was charged with sexually touching another person without consent and granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, April 13.”
