NSW State of Origin forward, Jack de Belin, has been charged by police over an alleged sexual assault.
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The Cootamundra Bulldogs junior, who plays with St George-Illawarra in the NRL, voluntarily attended Wollongong Police Station on Thursday afternoon to be interviewed over allegations he raped a woman at a unit in Wollongong early on Sunday morning.
Police confirmed de Belin has been charged with a single count of aggravated sexual assault in company.
He has been bailed to appear in Wollongong Local Court on February 19.
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 playing a part in the Blues’ celebrated series victory.
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 Suncorp Stadium.
He was last month named in an extended NSW squad for next year's campaign.
Off the field, de Belin is understood to be expecting a child with his long-term partner.
The St George Illawarra Dragons said in a statement the club is taking the matter "very seriously".
"Jack has been provided with welfare support to enable him the time and opportunity to deal with the matter," the club said in a statement on Thursday.