Update: Star St George Illawarra Dragons player Jack De Belin has been charged with sexual assault.
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The 27-year-old voluntarily attended Wollongong Police Station this afternoon to be interviewed over allegations he raped a woman at a unit in Wollongong about 1.30am on Sunday.
Police confirmed a short time ago De Brelin has now been charged with a single count of aggravated sexual assault in company.
Detectives are currently determining his bail.
Inquiries are continuing.
Meanwhile, the Dragons have released a statement.
“The St George Illawarra Dragons have today [Thursday] 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 said.
“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.”
Earlier:
A high-profile St George Illawarra Dragon player is tonight being questioned by Wollongong detectives over an alleged sexual assault.
Jack de Belin voluntarily attended Wollongong Police Station around 3.40pm.
The investigation relates to allegations stemming from an encounter with a female last week.
The incident is alleged to have occurred in Wollongong.
Sources say a second player was also under investigation.
The 27-year-old has played 153 NRL games in eight seasons since debuting with the Dragons in 2011.
He made a long-awaited State of Origin debut for NSW this year.
Off the field, the Mercury understands the Coniston resident is expecting a child with his long-term partner.
The NRL and the Dragons have been contacted for comment.
De Belin carried a hip injury into the State of Origin series, but was a standout as the Blues ended an almost-perfect decade of dominance by Queensland, winning game one in Melbourne and two in Sydney, before losing the dead rubber in Brisbane.
He admitted struggling with an emotional let-down afterwards, before playing with an ankle injury in the Dragons stunning 48-18 thumping of the Broncos in an elimination final at Suncrop Stadium. Having been competition leaders midway through the season, St George Illawarra were knocked out in the second week of finals by South Sydney.
He was last month named in an extended NSW squad for next year's campaign.
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