Sam Burgess has made his first post to social media since bombshell allegations about his private life emerged in recent weeks.
The former South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL player posed beside his two children in a photo shared to Instagram on Monday.
The 31-year-old appeared relaxed and happy in the photograph as he held hands with daughter Poppy, three, and son Billy, one.
Back: Sam Burgess has made his first post to social media since bombshell allegations about his private life emerged in recent weeks. The former South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL player posed beside his two children in a photo shared to Instagram on Monday. All pictured
He appeared to be in a rural setting, perhaps near the Bowral, NSW estate where his ex-wife Phoebe Burgess, 31, lives with their two children.
The couple finalised their divorce in April this year.
It is unclear who took the photograph, which the former footballer captioned simply with two love heart emojis.
Sam’s return to the spotlight comes after revelations regarding his personal life.
Dad: He appeared to be in a rural setting, perhaps near the Bowral, NSW estate where his ex-wife Phoebe Burgess, 31, lives with their two children, Poppy, three, and Billy, one. She and Sam finalised their divorce in April this year. Pictured: Sam and Phoebe in happier times
On October 2, Sam was formally stood down from his coaching role at the South Sydney Rabbitohs after claims about his marriage and wild lifestyle were published in The Australian.
The NRL and NSW Police have both launched investigations into the allegations.
The lawyer acting for Sam Burgess, Mark O’Brien, has strongly denied all allegations.
‘The allegations are false and constitute an indefensible defamation against my client,’ Mr O’Brien said.
Difficult times: Sam’s return to the spotlight comes after revelations regarding his personal life
The article included text messages Phoebe allegedly sent to Hollywood star Russell Crowe, who part-owns the Rabbitohs NRL club, in November 2018.
Rabbitohs staff members have also been accused of covering up Sam’s alleged indiscretions. It is not alleged that Russell was involved in any cover-up.
‘I thought we had the world at our feet together,’ Phoebe allegedly wrote to the actor. ‘He might need a good friend because he is just not our Sam.’
The article also included text messages Sam allegedly sent to Phoebe, after her initial conversation with the club owner came to light.
Explosive claims: On October 2, Sam was stood down from his coaching role at the South Sydney Rabbitohs after claims about his marriage and wild lifestyle were published in The Australian
‘Phoebe why did you message RC saying everything,’ Sam allegedly wrote. ‘What are you trying to solve here?’
In the wake of the initial article, more bombshell claims about the 31-year-old footballer have come to light.
Sam was staying with his brother Luke at The Establishment, in Sydney’s CBD, on November 5, 2018, following a farewell BBQ for Souths player Jason Clark, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Phoebe was reportedly at home while her husband continued to stretch the festivities over a day.
Denial: The lawyer acting for Burgess, Mark O’Brien, has strongly denied all allegations
According to the report, Sam returned home when his mother Julie – known to NRL fans as ‘Mrs B’ – descended on the swanky hotel in the early hours of the evening.
Julie allegedly asked hotel staff for the number of her son’s hotel room and after an hour of convincing, she moved Sam and Luke into a car.
‘Julie virtually had to drag Sam and Luke to her car by their ears, but somehow she got them out of that room and into her car,’ a source claimed.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the league has launched an investigation into the claims made by The Australian, but they will not take action based off allegations.
Texts: The article included texts Phoebe allegedly sent to Hollywood star Russell Crowe (right), who part owns the Rabbitohs NRL club. Rabbitohs staff have also been accused of covering up Sam’s alleged indiscretions. It is not alleged that Russell was involved in any cover-up
‘The action we have taken is to initiate the investigation,’ he said last Friday.
‘Because these are allegations, we don’t have the facts before us, we’re not going to be taking any further action until we have the information needed to do that.
‘However, I believe that Sam Burgess has stood himself down from South Sydney Rabbitohs duties this weekend. And I also believe that he has stood down from Fox Sports as well.’
Mr Abdo said the claims against Burgess were ‘very serious allegations’.
‘We will look to work with the club to find out what happened and to get to the bottom of the facts,’ he said.
More headlines: In the wake of the initial article, more bombshell claims about the 31-year-old footballer have come to light. One newspaper article alleged that his mother, Julie, dragged him and brother Luke home from a night of partying
‘We will also co-operate with the NSW Police, who have also begun an investigation into the matter. If these allegations are proven, we will take the strongest possible action that we can.’
NSW Police said they would be conducting their own investigation.
South Sydney released a statement saying the allegations were ‘very concerning’ and they would be treated with the ‘utmost seriousness’.
‘There is no place in our society for violence, harassment or abuse against women. If anyone is found guilty of allegations of this nature, the club will take the strongest possible action,’ a Rabbitohs spokesperson said.
Investigations: NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the league had launched an investigation into the claims made by The Australian. Meanwhile, South Sydney released a statement saying the allegations were very concerning and they would be treated with the ‘utmost seriousness’
Last year, an apprehended violence order against Sam Burgess was taken out by police to protect Phoebe’s father, Mitchell Hooke.
The AVO came after an alleged domestic violence incident at Mr Hooke’s property in Glenquarry, in the NSW Southern Highlands, on October 19.
Burgess was charged with domestic violence-related intimidation. He has pleaded not guilty. The matter is due in court in November.
AVO matter: Last year, an apprehended violence order against Sam Burgess was taken out by police to protect Phoebe’s father Mitchell Hooke (left)