Jack de Belin ruling offers NRL vindication if not cause for celebration | Matt Cleary

The NRL argued something had to be done given the game has had such a low base for so long Rugby league’s “summer from hell” in which sex tapes jockeyed for attention with nudity, stupidity, drunkenness and allegations of violence and aggravated sexual assault, was so damaging for rugby league’s brand that clubs without players involved in the matters feared sponsors would flee by association.In Jack de Belin’s hearing to decide whether he could play rugby league after being the first casualty of the NRL’s “no fault stand down” policy, Melbourne Storm CEO Bart Campbell offered evidence that companies had been resistant to sponsoring his club by dint of being in the same code of football as the Dragons back-rower charged with aggravated sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman from Wollongong. Related: Jack de Belin loses federal court bid to be reinstated by NRL Related: Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne faces additional charge in rape case Continue readingread full article

Source: TheGuardian

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