Souths stand by Sam Burgess and say he WILL mentor young players despite allegations about his failed marriage and wild partying ways

NRL star Sam Burgess is still set to coach the South Sydney Rabbitohs' up-and-coming young players despite serious allegations about his professional and personal life.

An article in The Australian newspaper last week contained bombshell accusations about his behaviour towards his ex-wife Phoebe and claims of excessive partying.   

The claims have sparked an NRL Integrity Unit investigation as well as the launching of a police strike force, but Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly said plans were still going ahead for the 31-year-old to coach the club's under-19s squad.

The move comes despite Burgess standing himself down from his off-field coaching role with the club and commentary role with Fox Sports in the wake of the accusations.  

Mr Solly brought up Burgess' appointment as the coach of the junior team - which plays in New South Wales' S.G. Ball Cup competition - in a question-and-answer video interview with fans on Thursday.

Embattled retired footy star Sam Burgess pictured with his ex-wife Phoebe. He is still in line to be a coach in the South Sydney Rabbitohs youth set-up despite allegations being raised about his behaviour towards Phoebe and claims of excessive partying

Sam Burgess pictured left with his three brothers and mother Julie Burgess after the Rabbitohs' drought-breaking premiership in 2014. The 31-year-old stood down from his off-field coaching role in the wake of the allegations

'Sam Burgess and John Sutton will be the coaches of our S.G. Ball team, which is a first,' Mr Solly said in the video published to the Rabbitohs' website.

Burgess retired last October after a spate of injuries but stayed at the club, where he has been working as a development coach. His move into the youth set-up was first hinted at last month. 

The embattled ex-player's new appointment at the club would nonetheless be dependent on the outcome of the league's integrity unit investigation, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly mentioned Burgess' appointment as the coach of the under-19s team in a video question-and-answer session with fans 

The NSW Rugby League said no application for Burgess and Sutton - another retired Rabbitohs player - to coach the under-19s side has been received by the sporting body. 

Claims of Burgess's alleged excessive partying and accusations about his conduct towards Phoebe were made in The Australian newspaper last week. 

Burgess's media lawyer Mark O'Brien has said: 'The allegations are false and constitute an indefensible defamation against my client.

'It is apparent sources of the false allegations are those currently in dispute with my client over various issues.' 

The NRL's integrity unit has commenced an inquiry into the allegations and the New South Wales Police Force has formed Strike Force Irrabella to investigate. 

Staff members at Souths have also been accused of ignoring Burgess's alleged indiscretions. 

Burgess retired last October after a spate of injuries but stayed at the club, where he has been working as a development coach 

Burgess was hit with an apprehended violence order taken out by police on behalf of his father-in law Mitch Hooke after an alleged confrontation between the pair last October. Mr Hooke is pictured with his daughter Phoebe

Among the major allegations were claims about an incident inside the Burgess home at Maroubra, in Sydney's east, in November 2018 when the father-of-two was behaving erratically.

A former teammate of Burgess is due to be questioned by police over Zoom this week from the UK, where he is playing in the English Super League.

Jason Clark was the person Phoebe Burgess turned to during the 2018 incident with Sam at their home, The Australian reported. 

Evidence Clark gives to police could form a key part of the investigation into Burgess and South Sydney, as well as the team's medical staff. 

Clark had attended the couple's house along with Burgess' mother Julie, who had brought Sam and older brother Luke home from a city hotel. 

Mr Hooke and his wife Sarah were also reportedly at the house.

Detectives have already interviewed Phoebe and visited several relevant locations, including an underground car park where Burgess allegedly received medical treatment.

South Sydney Rabbitohs legend Sam and his ex-wife Phoebe Burgess are pictured together. Bombshell allegations have been made in a newspaper article about his alleged excessive partying habits and behaviour towards Phoebe

The Hooke family has closed ranks around Phoebe since she split from her husband. The Hooke women are pictured left to right: mother Sarah, and sisters Harriet, Jemima and Phoebe with father Mitch at the back

A pharmacy linked to the club's doctor Andrew McDonald has also reportedly been visited by police. 

Souths co-owner, Hollywood star Russell Crowe, could be called to give evidence before the NRL inquiry. 

Burgess has been holed-up at his home in Coogee, in Sydney's east, since the allegations were published.

He stood down from his off-field coaching role with the club and commentary role with Fox League has been left 'devastated' by the accusations against him, a close friend told The Daily Telegraph. 

'He is angry and feels like he doesn't have a voice,' the friend said.  

'The allegations something that is abhorrent to him, which makes it all the more harder to stomach.' 

Souths CEO Mr Solly has said he knew nothing of the allegations made by The Australian until being contacted by journalists. 

On Sunday morning, club coach Wayne Bennett also said he had only just become aware of the allegations.

Since his retirement in October 2019, Burgess has been a coach at former club South Sydney Rabbitohs. He has now stood down from that role

'I've been here since 2018 and I knew nothing about it until I'd been told in the last 24 hours,' Bennett said.

'I have never had a player or any staff member talk to me about it in any shape or form.

'They are allegations. When we get all the facts together and see this at the end of the day, we will take another position on it and make another statement.' 

Ms Burgess remains with her family in Bowral, caring for the two young children she shares with Burgess. 

Her manager Sharon Finnigan said: 'Phoebe is trying to get by and manage and care for her two children… She is doing her best as a single mother.'  

The Burgesses married at Phoebe's parents home in December 2015 and separated in December 2018, weeks after the birth of their son Billy.

The couple had rekindled their relationship by April 2019 but split again last October.

Their divorce was finalised in April. They also have an older daughter, Poppy.