A-League’s Ruon Tongyik charged with aggravated sexual assault

An A-League star and ex-Socceroo has been charged over an alleged rape in which police will say a woman was injured. The charge has emerged the day the new A-League season kicks off.

A Western Sydney Wanderers star has been charged over an alleged rape in company which police say left a woman physically injured in Sydney’s west.

One-time Socceroo Ruon Tongyik has been charged with aggravated sexual assault in company causing actual bodily harm in relation to an alleged incident in Mt Druitt almost five years ago.

The 10-year league stalwart appeared before a magistrate the day the A-League 2023/24 season kicks off – with the Wanderers due to play their first match against the Wellington Phoenix this Sunday.

In documents tendered to Penrith Local Court, police allege Tongyik and another man sexually assaulted a woman who cannot be identified on November 24, 2018, knowing she was not consenting.

Police will further allege Tongyik “recklessly inflicted actual bodily harm” on the woman in doing so.

Tongyik in his Mariners days.

Tongyik at court on Friday.

The 26-year-old central defender appeared briefly at Penrith Local Court on Friday, where the matter was adjourned for a brief status mention.

He did not respond to The Daily Telegraph’s questions at court but his solicitor Bobby Hill from Hanna Legal made a brief statement on his behalf.

“Mr Tongyik will be vigorously defending these charges,” Mr Hill told The Daily Telegraph.

“He looks forward to clearing his name, putting on his boots and getting back out on the pitch.”

Western Sydney FC football player & Socceroo Ruon Tongyik (R) leaves Penrith Courthouse with his lawyer Bobby Hill (L). Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Tongyik was arrested at his Bellevue Hill home on August 17 and initially refused bail by police.

Magistrate Ross Hudson granted Tongyik bail the same day at Waverley Local Court with multiple strict conditions.

The A-League stalwart will be required to reside at his Bellevue Hill address, report to Waverley police station daily, surrender his passport and only possess one mobile phone.

Tongyik has represented Australia five times, running out twice for the Socceroos in 2021 and three times for Australia’s U23 team in 2017 and 2018.

He remains on contract with the Western Sydney Wanderers until June 2024, though in January the club loaned him out to Iranian side Mes Kerman to the end of their season.

Ruon Tongyik in his Brisbane Roar days in 2019. (AAP Image/Richard Waugh)

Tongyik has since returned to the club and was on the Wanderers squad for the round of 32 in the 2023 Australia Cup on August 9 – just over a week before his arrest.

The Wanderers trounced Western Australian side Floreat Athena FC 6-1 at Perth’s Kingsway Reserve.

His profile also remains on the Wanderers’ website’s 2023/24 squad page ahead of their Round 1 match on Sunday.

Tongyik remains on strict conditional bail. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Tongyik has been in his second stint with the Wanderers since 2022, having previously played in the red and black in 2018 and 2019.

He was with the Central Coast Mariners for three years from 2019 to 2022 and has also previously run out for the Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City in his decade-long professional career.

The Wanderers have been contacted for comment.