NRL: Sam Burgess responds to gossip about his rapidly greying hair

Retired NRL star Sam Burgess was spotted leaving court in the Southern Highlands on Tuesday with noticeably greying hair.

The former South Sydney Rabbitohs player, 32, used to have dark brown hair but appears to have turned grey in recent months.

A source close to the sportsman said Burgess was ‘amused’ to learn some people were more focused on his silvery locks than his recent court victory.

New look: Former NRL star Sam Burgess admitted he’s ‘ageing like the rest of the population’ after sporting noticeably greying hair during a recent court appearance

‘Yes, I’m ageing like the rest of the population. It’s just silly.’ Burgess told a friend of the speculation about his greying hair.

Burgess also insisted he had never dyed his hair, which had been gradually going grey for years.

‘Just a few more greys these days,’ he said.

Some studies show that hair can lose pigment due to chronic or high levels of stress.

However, most scientists believe genetics and age are the primary factors in the development of prematurely grey hair.

Ageing: A source close to the star told Daily Mail Australia, Burgess was 'amused' to learn that attention was being focused on his silvery locks after his recent court victory. Pictured Sam with chocolate brown hair in 2017

Ageing: A source close to the star told Daily Mail Australia, Burgess was ‘amused’ to learn that attention was being focused on his silvery locks after his recent court victory. Pictured Sam with chocolate brown hair in 2017

It comes after Burgess escaped conviction for driving with cocaine in his system while on his way to pick up his two young children.

Burgess pleaded guilty on Tuesday afternoon to driving with traces of cocaine present in his saliva.

Magistrate Mark Douglass said in Moss Vale Local Court that Burgess had shown remorse, contrition and insight into his behaviour.

Changes: He has some flecks of grey in 2018, but still had caramel tresses

Changes: He has some flecks of grey in 2018, but still had caramel tresses 

Brunette: Sam sported luscious brown locks in 2015 (pictured)

Brunette: Sam sported luscious brown locks in 2015 (pictured) 

Mr Douglass said Burgess had undergone a ‘very arduous and rigorous’ four-week residential rehabilitation program after his offending. That program did relate specifically to drugs.

Solicitor Bryan Wrench said his client had attended a residential program and had returned clean drug tests since the offence.

Mr Douglass placed Burgess on a nine-month conditional release order in relation to the drug matter and fined him $581 for each of two traffic offences.

Burgess has also pleaded guilty to driving without a NSW licence and driving while unregistered.

Result: It comes after Burgess escaped conviction for driving with cocaine in his system while on his way to pick up his two young children. He was placed on a nine-month conditional release order in relation to the drug matter and fined him $581 for each of two traffic offences

Result: It comes after Burgess escaped conviction for driving with cocaine in his system while on his way to pick up his two young children. He was placed on a nine-month conditional release order in relation to the drug matter and fined him $581 for each of two traffic offences

He was not accused of driving under the influence of cocaine, only with the less serious offence of having the drug present in his system when he was behind the wheel.

The 32-year-old was subjected to a random roadside drug test after being pulled over by highway patrol officers in the Southern Highlands about 1.30pm on Monday, February 22.

Burgess had been on his way to collect daughter Poppy and son Billy from Bowral, about 8km away, when police stopped his BMW X5 on the Hume Highway at Braemar.

Charges: The 32-year-old was subjected to a random roadside drug test after being pulled over by highway patrol officers in the Southern Highlands about 1.30pm on Monday, February 22. Burgess had been on his way to collect four-year-old daughter Poppy and two-year-old son Billy from Bowral when police stopped his BMW X5 on the Hume Highway at Braemar

Charges: The 32-year-old was subjected to a random roadside drug test after being pulled over by highway patrol officers in the Southern Highlands about 1.30pm on Monday, February 22. Burgess had been on his way to collect four-year-old daughter Poppy and two-year-old son Billy from Bowral when police stopped his BMW X5 on the Hume Highway at Braemar

A preliminary test detected signs of cocaine in his saliva and Burgess was taken to Southern Highlands police station where a secondary oral fluid test was undertaken.

That test returned positive to cocaine.

Burgess had celebrated his older brother Luke’s 34th birthday in Sydney’s eastern suburbs at Coogee beachside restaurant Marrah two nights earlier.

Burgess was pulled over three weeks after he was found guilty of intimidating his father-in-law Mitchell Hooke during a heated clash at the Hooke family home near Bowral in October 2019. That conviction was subsequently overturned on appeal.

Test: Burgess was surprised by the initial positive test and was concerned by any suggestion his driving could have been inhibited. He had celebrated his older brother Luke's 34th birthday in Sydney's eastern suburbs at Coogee beachside restaurant Marrah two nights earlier

Test: Burgess was surprised by the initial positive test and was concerned by any suggestion his driving could have been inhibited. He had celebrated his older brother Luke’s 34th birthday in Sydney’s eastern suburbs at Coogee beachside restaurant Marrah two nights earlier

Burgess has no criminal record in Australia or the United Kingdom.

Burgess and ex-wife and Phoebe Burgess split in October 2019, after four tumultuous years of marriage.

They had initially separated in December 2018 – shortly after the birth of their son, Billy – but reconciled in April, only to end things for good six months later.

Burgess has been filming the second season of SAS Australia, the top-rating Channel Seven TV series which puts contestants through a modified special-forces selection regime.

Split: Burgess and ex-wife and Phoebe Burgess (right) split in October 2019, after four tumultuous years of marriage

Split: Burgess and ex-wife and Phoebe Burgess (right) split in October 2019, after four tumultuous years of marriage