
— With AAP.
Jack de Belin has been stood down after the ARL Commission announced controversial changes to its behavioural policy on Thursday.
St George Illawarra forward de Belin, who has pleaded not guilty to aggravated sexual assault, has been sidelined from the NRL indefinitely.
He will be allowed to train with the Dragons but will be unavailable to play NRL and representative football.
ARLC chairman Peter Beattie and NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg announced the changes, which allow the game to stand down players charged with serious crimes, following a momentous meeting of the independent commission at Rugby League Central.
Under the previous policy, players were allowed to continue playing while their court case runs its course.
The rules allow players facing charges which carry a jail term of 11 years or more to be stood down.
BREAKING: The #NRL Commission has announced that it will stand down players facing serious indictable offences on full pay while they are before the courts, including Dragons Jack de Belin. https://t.co/BPxkZURizD
— ABC Grandstand (@abcgrandstand) February 28, 2019
The NRL chief executive also has the discretion to stand down players facing other serious charges, including violence against women and children.
The game was under pressure from broadcasters and sponsors to protect its image after an off-season which has been derailed by poor behaviour and a string of controversies.
“Whatever decision we made today would have been controversial,” Beattie said.
“This is not about being popular, this is about doing the right thing by rugby league. This is also about sending a clear message that the game doesn’t tolerate violence.”
The policy change has been strenuously opposed by the Rugby League Players Association which says it will prejudice the players’ right to a fair trial.
Top Comments
Any NRL player facing charges as serious as sexual assault should be stood down. This is the right decision. The fact that the Dragons didn't stand him down earlier, or take a more disciplinary stand against rape allegations that led to charges, has made me lose faith in the as a club.