MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia's embattled National Rugby League (NRL) will stand down players facing serious indictable offences as part of a new policy formed in the wake of a string of off-field incidents that have tarnished the competition's brand.
St. George Illawarra forward Jack de Belin, who has pleaded not guilty to a sexual assault charge, became the first player sidelined under the new "no fault stand down" policy, the governing Australian Rugby League Commission said on Thursday.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!