Former England rugby star Sam Burgess denies sensational claims in Australia that he had to be injected with liquid tranquiliser after a drug-fuelled binge, failed drugs tests for MDMA and ketamine and assaulted his pregnant wife in front of her father
- A report in the Australian has made serious allegations against Sam Burgess
- The three incidents involving Burgess all allegedly took place in November 2018
- His club were allegedly aware of his alleged drug use before making him captain
- But his lawyer Mark O’Brien has strongly denied all the accusations in Australia
Sam Burgess’ lawyer has denied sensational allegations in Australia of drug use, domestic violence and harassment against the former England rugby union and league star.
A report in The Australian claimed three separate incidents involving Burgess were covered up by Australian rugby league side South Sydney Rabbitohs, who are also accused of using fake identities to hide positive tests for illegal substances.
Burgess’ lawyer Mark O’Brien, however, has strongly denied all the allegations against the 31-year-old, who is now a coach at the club.
Sam Burgess’ lawyer has denied sensational allegations against the 31-year-old
A report in Australia claim South Sydney Rabbitohs covered up drug use claims against him
The report claims he also assaulted his then wife Phoebe two years ago in front of her father
Burgess is a former England rugby union centre having made the switch from league in 2014
‘The allegations are false and constitute an indefensible defamation against my client,’ Mr O’Brien told The Australian.
‘It is apparent sources of the false allegations are those currently in dispute with my client over various issues.’
The report also claims Burgess allegedly assaulted his heavily pregnant then wife Phoebe Burgess in November 2018, in front of her father Mr Mitch Hooke.
The couple formalised their divorce in April this year after getting married in 2015.
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The report also alleges that Burgess assaulted his former wife Phoebe when she was pregnant
The incident supposedly took place in front of Phoebe’s father in November 2018
Approached for comment by The Australian, Phoebe Burgess only said: ‘This is an extremely painful, difficult time and I am trying to care for my two toddlers while we move on from an extremely traumatic chapter of our lives.’
The Australian also revealed Burgess claimed in private messages in September 2018 that then-National Rugby League chief executive Todd Greenberg told him he would not be suspended over a sexting scandal while it was still being investigated by the league and the club.
That scandal had blown up when a woman allegedly complained to the club saying she had been subjected to sexual harassment by Burgess and other players during a video call in which Burgess allegedly showed her his penis.
Burgess retired from rugby league in October 2019 and has since been a development coach at Souths and mentored by veteran coach Wayne Bennett.
Burgess made 24 appearances for England’s rugby league side over a period of 11 years
He was part of the Stuart Lancaster’s squad that flopped on home soil at the 2015 World Cup
He made five appearances for England’s rugby union side – including during the disastrous 2015 World Cup on home soil – after switching from rugby league in 2014, while he also ran in four tries from 21 appearances for Bath.
Burgess – who switched back to his former profession in 2015 – also made 24 appearances for England’s rugby league side between 2008 and 2019, scoring eight tries for them as well as one for Great Britain against New Zealand back in 2007 in Huddersfield.
Burgess also represented Bradford Bulls during his rugby league career, and made one appearance for the NRL All Stars.
Since his retirement in October 2019, Burgess has been a coach at former club Souths
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