World Club Challenge: Luke Burgess being investigated by NRL
Wednesday 11 February 2015 16:53, UK
Former Leeds forward Luke Burgess is at the centre of another controversial incident after being investigated in Australia following an alleged bar-room brawl.
Prop Burgess, 27, who made the England squad in 2012, was released by South Sydney last month with a year left on his contract and signed a two-year deal with Manly.
There was little explanation for the surprise move at the time but it emerged at the weekend that Burgess and the Rabbitohs' former captain John Sutton were accused of being involved in an alcohol-fuelled incident at the end of the club's high-altitude pre-season training camp in Arizona last December.
The Rabbitohs maintain that they informed the NRL integrity unit of the incident immediately upon becoming aware of it
The National Rugby League announced it had re-opened its investigation after it was claimed, during the incident, a doorman was left with blood dripping from his head while the players, initially handcuffed by police at the side of the road, were taken to the cells and later released without charge.
An NRL spokesman said the integrity unity had "received new information which will be investigated".
Although Burgess is no longer with the Rabbitohs, the incident has cast a cloud over their preparations for the World Club Challenge against Super League champions St Helens on Sunday week.
Sutton, who has been replaced as captain, remains part of the squad, along with Luke's twin brothers Tom and George.
A fourth sibling Sam, switched codes to join Bath rugby union after the 2014 NRL Grand Final win.
In a statement, the club said: "The Rabbitohs will continue to openly assist the NRL integrity unit with its investigations.
"The Rabbitohs maintain that they informed the NRL integrity unit of the incident immediately upon becoming aware of it and continued to apprise the NRL of all information that came to the club's knowledge at the time."
Super League champions St Helens host Souths in the World Series on February 22 for the right to be called club world champions.
Watch St Helens v South Sydney on Sunday, February 22 from 7pm on Sky Sports 1 HD
