St George Illawarra star Jack de Belin charged with sexual assault

New details have emerged in the sexual assault case involving Origin star Jack de Belin and a 19-year-old woman at a unit in Wollongong.

Jack De Belin of the Dragons has been charged by Wollongong detectives.

NSW State of Origin player Jack de Belin has been granted conditional bail after he was charged with aggravated sexual assault.

The alleged incident involved a 19-year-old woman at a home unit in Wollongong in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The 27-year-old St George Illawarra Dragon forward voluntarily attended Wollongong Police Station on Thursday afternoon and was charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault in company and was granted conditional bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court on February 12.

The NRL said the integrity unit has been advised.

The St George Illawarra Dragons said in a statement the club is taking the matter “very seriously”.

De Belin was reportedly at a Wollongong nightclub in the early hours of Sunday with a group of people, which included the woman and a fellow rugby league player. According to The Daily Telegraph.

She reportedly hopped into a taxi with de Belin and a lower grade player and was under the impression they were headed to another club, but instead ended up at the apartment, the Nine Network reported.

The 19-year-old reportedly went to the bathroom, and when she came out she said the players were naked and sexually assaulted her.

Jack De Belin of the Dragons has been charged by Wollongong detectives.

De Belin, 27, made his NRL debut for the Dragons in 2011 and has played a total of 154 games to date.

He made his State of Origin debut in 2018 where he featured in all three games of the Blues’ series win.

De Belin has denied the allegations and any wrongdoing.

The Dragons released a short statement following the star players arrest and subsequent charge by Wollongong detectives.

“The St George Illawarra Dragons have today been advised that forward Jack de Belin has been charged with sexual assault following an alleged incident in Wollongong on Sunday, December 9,” the statement read on the club website.

“The club is taking the matter very seriously and have been working with Jack and all relevant authorities, including the police and the NRL Integrity Unit, since this time.

“Jack has been provided with welfare support to enable him the time and opportunity to deal with the matter.

“As this is a police matter to be considered by the court, the club is not in a position to make any further comment at this time.”

It comes as NRL stars Jarryd Hayne and Dylan Walker both faced court earlier this week over separate assault charges.

Hayne, 30, has been charged with aggravated sexual assault and inflicting actual bodily harm after he allegedly had sex witha 26-year-old woman without her consent in Newcastle on September 30.

His barrister told the court on Monday Hayne intends to plead not guilty. Meanwhile, Walker, 24, was charged with common assaultand assault occasioning actual bodily harm - both domestic violence-related - after his partner suffered cuts to her shoulder,leg and feet in Dee Why on December 6. Walker has pleaded not guilty.