St George Illawarra’s Jack de Belin loses court case against NRL and ARL

A Federal Court ruling has seen Jack de Belin has lose his bid to be allowed to play in the NRL.

NRL player Jack de Belin remains indefinitely suspended. Picture: Peter Rae/AAP

Jack de Belin has lost his federal court case against the ARL Commission and NRL. The decision means De Belin — out of action since the commission introduced a no-fault stand-down policy for serious criminal charges on the eve of the season — will remain on the sidelines while he fights aggravated sexual assault charges.

The St George Illawarra star and incumbent NSW Origin lock was stood down after he was charged with the aggravated sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman in a Wollongong unit.

He has pleaded not guilty.

De Belin had challenged the no-fault stand down policy when he became the first player sidelined as a result of the controversial rules, which were rubber-stamped in March.

Under the rules, the game can stand down any player charged with a serious crime which carries a jail term of 11 years or more.

Judge Melissa Perry determined the ban on de Belin was not a restraint of charge and was necessary to protect the “legitimate interests” of the commission and the NRL.

The court decided the commission had established a clear and present danger to their interests given the seriousness of the charge against de Belin and the unprecedented extent of the negative reporting it had attracted.

Further, judge Perry said the reputation of the competition had been tarnished by the allegations and charges against de Belin.

She also noted the escalation in the concerns of broadcasters and sponsors, and the evidence of financial damage sustained by the NRL and clubs as a result before the start of the 2019 season.

“The court accepted that nothing short of a rule precluding Mr de Belin and others charged in the future with serious offences of a similar nature from taking the field was likely to address the clear and present danger established by the evidence,” Judge Perry wrote in her summary.

“The court also accepted that where criminal proceedings were not finalised there would be a real danger of contempt of court if the NRL were to investigate.”

with AAP