Rugby sacks executive James Selby on child abuse charges

Prominent sports executive James Selby has been sacked after AFP raided his home and seized videos of young children being sexually abused on his mobile and home computer.

James Selby is a senior executive at Rugby Australia and has appeared in court after AFP officers raided his Surry Hills home on Friday.

Sports executive James Selby has been sacked by Rugby Australia after federal police raided his inner-Sydney home and allegedly seized videos of young children being sexually abused on his mobile and home computer.

Mr Selby, who had been a general manager at Rugby Australia since 2018, appeared in court on Saturday morning after investigators from the Australian Federal Police Child Protection and Digital Forensics unit arrested him on four charges, including using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, possessing child abuse material and transmitting illicit material.

In a statement on Sunday, the AFP said it would allege officers discovered “instant messaging conversations” on Mr Selby’s ­mobile concerning the abuse of young children, as well as details of an alleged payment to a ­contact overseas to procure child abuse material.

Seeking bail at Parramatta Local Court, Mr Selby’s legal team unsuccessfully argued that his high-profile roles at both Rugby Australia and Oceania Rugby, where he is a board member, would expose him to considerable danger in prison.

“He is significantly involved in the business community … (and) the nature of the offending will add to the onerousness of his custody,” barrister Matthew McAuliffe said.

“Just tonight, corrective ­officers have been calling him a ‘faggot’ all night, and he’s been told if he goes to jail, he will be killed.”

After Saturday’s hearing, Rugby Australia said its board had resolved to terminate Mr Selby’s employment effective immediately, noting a zero-tolerance policy to criminal charges of this nature.

On Sunday, the AFP confirmed the raid and subsequent arrest of Mr Selby, 41, had been conducted as part of Operation Arkstone, a taskforce established to uncover an online network of alleged offenders accused of abusing children and sharing ­illicit content online.

The operation, launched in February 2020 and spanning Europe, Asia and the US, has resulted in 21 arrests across Australia – including 15 in NSW – and identification of more than 55 victims.

Detective Sergeant Joel Wheeler said instant messaging applications and social media ­forums provided “an easy avenue for child sex offenders to find and share child abuse material with their like-minded peers”.

“The conversations and content produced and shared online about the abuse of young children is horrifically overwhelming,” Sergeant Wheeler said.

Mr Selby, who was refused bail, is due to appear in court on November 10, where he will face a maximum penalty for each offence of up to 15 years in prison.