Connor Lind: Northern beaches private school rugby star to face sex assault trial

A former Sydney private school rugby player facing sexual assault allegations clutched a book titled “Think Like A Monk” as he entered his pleas in court.

A former private school rugby player and cheerleader accused of sexual assault clutched a book titled “Think Like A Monk” as he proclaimed his innocence in court.

Connor Lind, 21, was charged with three counts of sexual intercourse without consent with respect to a female whose age is not known.

Connor Lind as he leaves the Downing Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

He was arraigned at Sydney District Court on July 15, where the court heard the Crown will allege Lind had sexual intercourse with the female without her consent on November 14 2020 in Parramatta, and twice on January 10 2021 in Allambie Heights.

Lind clutched a book titled Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty as he pleaded not guilty to all three offences.

He returns to court next year.

A blurb for Shetty’s book says the “social media superstar” distils timeless wisdom he “learned as a practising monk into practical steps anyone can take every day to live a less anxious, more meaningful life”.

Lind’s trial is expected to last three weeks and was set down for June 5 next year.

The Kirrawee man is a graduate of the prestigious St Augustine’s College in Brookvale, where he played in the school’s 2nd XV rugby union team.

He has previously played Rugby Sevens with Phoenix Sporting Academy, a rugby development and training program on Sydney’s north shore.

Lind was also a cheerleader with Aussie Gems Cheer, an elite USA-style competitive cheerleading club on the northern beaches.