The NRL has intervened to indefinitely stand down Parramatta Eels player Dylan Brown under the league’s no-fault stand down policy, following allegations he touched a woman’s breasts multiple times.
Brown was charged by New South Wales police with five counts of sexually touching another person without consent after an incident at a pub in Sydney’s Double Bay on Saturday.
He appeared at Sydney’s Downing Centre local court on Wednesday where solicitor David Newham requested bail conditions be adjusted from a blanket ban prohibiting him from entering Double Bay, to a ban on entering licensed premises within the suburb, which was agreed to.
The 22-year-old must also report to Rose Bay police station at least once a week on Mondays.
Newham told media outside the court that CCTV footage taken on the night does not support the version of events alleged by police.
“Mr Brown and I viewed the CCTV footage yesterday at the Bondi police station,” he said.
“It does not support the notion that on five separate occasions Mr Brown has approached this young woman and with both hands touched both her breasts. It does not support that at this point in time.”
Under ongoing bail conditions Brown must also not be intoxicated in a public place or make contact with the complainant unless through a lawyer.
In a statement on Sunday, the Eels said the club had been made aware of the matter and had advised the NRL integrity unit.
It was initially unclear whether the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy would be applied to Brown, as it only applies automatically for charges that carry a maximum prison term of 11 years or more.
The Eels had selected Brown to play on Saturday but the NRL chief executive, Andrew Abdo, exercised his power to intervene for charges with lesser sentences.
In a statement the NRL said the “decision should in no way be interpreted as a view on the innocence or guilt of the player”.
Brown’s case is due to be heard next on 28 June.
