Peter V’landys says NRL will investigate ‘serious’ Sam Burgess claims
As police and NRL launch probes into allegations of a Rabbitohs club cover-up of substance abuse and violence surrounding Sam Burgess, a former key South Sydney figure has spoken out.
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Former South Sydney general manager of football Shane Richardson has vehemently denied having any knowledge of serious drug allegations involving former star forward Sam Burgess.
It comes as NSW Police and the NRL integrity unit have launched their own investigations into claims surrounding the Rabbitohs and Burgess, following allegations made in The Australian newspaper on Friday.
Richardson told News Corp Australia on Friday that he was adamant neither Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly nor the club’s board had any knowledge of any alleged drug cover-up.
“I can say absolutely categorically that I had no knowledge of it whatsoever,” Richardson said.
“You have to ask the question. I understand that. I was the football manager at the time.
“But I will tell you now, categorically, that was never reported to me in any way, shape or form.
“No one reported it to us whatsoever.
“Not even an inkling of it. Not a text. Nothing.”
It comes as Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo vowed the governing body would launch an immediate investigation.
It partly related to claims made in The Australian that alleged South Sydney’s chief medical officer Andrew McDonald had treated Burgess on November 6, 2018, and that Burgess later underwent a “secret drug test” with a different doctor the following day in an underground car park of South Sydney Juniors club.
Burgess’ lawyer Mark O’Brien has strongly denied the allegations to The Australian.
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“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.”
It’s no secret Richardson had a strained relationship with Burgess towards the end of their time working together before Richardson resigned from the club earlier this year.
Asked if anyone else at Souths would have been aware of the allegations, Richardson said: “I don’t know that because this is the first time I have heard about it.
“So I don’t know.
“Who are we talking about?
“I have no doubt the board didn’t know about it because we would have told them.
“I know (Solly) didn’t know because we would talk about anything that came up. We always discussed it immediately.”
NRL boss Andrew Abdo said there were “new allegations” and he would speak with South Sydney officials on Friday.
“These allegations are very serious and I’ve instructed the Integrity Unit to investigate the claims as a priority,” Abdo said.
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“We will also seek the advice of police and other relevant authorities throughout this process.
“This is new information for the NRL and it is important we now gather the facts. The allegations have not yet been tested and due process will be followed as we undertake a thorough investigation.
“There is no place in our game for violence, harassment or abuse against women. If anyone is found guilty of these allegations we will take the strongest possible action.”
Earlier, ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said the explosive allegations of a Rabbitohs club cover-up of substance abuse, violence and harassment to protect Burgess, were “pretty serious.”
The allegations, contained in a report by The Australian newspaper, have been vehemently denied by Burgess’ lawyer.
The South Sydney club are also accused of using fake identities to hide results for drug tests for illegal substances.
V’landys on Friday told The Daily Telegraph that NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo would launch an immediate investigation.
“Every person in the community deserves due process and natural justice,” V’landys said.
“The allegations have to be tested and we have to undertake an investigation.
“We should have no prejudgement.
“Both Sam and the club should be afforded that.
“And without prejudging this instance, I stress that we have zero tolerance for violence against women or children, and we will never tolerate it.
“But we have to investigate this.
“We can’t not give them the opportunity of due process and natural justice.”
V’landys said the NRL’s integrity department would seek information from The Australian.
“We are taking the matter pretty serious because these are serious allegations,” V’landys added.
“But I have to keep stressing that he has to be given the opportunity to defend himself.
“At this stage these are allegations. They are not proven and they are not tested.”
Asked if Burgess would be able to stay in the South Sydney ‘bubble’ ahead of the Rabbitohs’ opening finals clash against Newcastle on Sunday, V’landys reiterated: “Again, at this stage they are allegations. We will start up an immediate investigation and see what evidence we can get.
“And if we do have sufficient evidence we will take the appropriate action. But until we see the evidence and until we see the facts you can’t make a judgment.”
Burgess has been working on the South Sydney coaching staff this season.
Originally published as Peter V’landys says NRL will investigate ‘serious’ Sam Burgess claims