Sam Burgess has been confronted by police and threatened with arrest outside his ex-partner’s home when the former NRL star tried to visit his children with a car full of Christmas presents.
The incident unraveled as the 33-year-old arrived at the front gate of Phoebe Burgess’s sprawling property in Bowral, 120km south of Sydney, on Sunday.
Daily Mail Australia understands the South Sydney legend was there to pick up Poppy, four, and Billy, two, in what was meant to be the first time seeing his kids since before Christmas.
The encounter lasted about 10 minutes, with officers warning Burgess he would be arrested if he refused to leave.
Burgess then drove away without incident, with his young children’s gifts still sitting on the back seat.
Sam Burgess (pictured leaving court in February, 2021) was involved in a tense standoff with police at his ex partner’s home when the former NRL star tried to visit the couple’s children with a carload full of Christmas presents
Daily Mail Australia understands the South Sydney legend was there to pick up Poppy, four, and Billy, two (pictured with Phoebe) for the first time since before Christmas
Daily Mail Australia has sought comment from NSW Police.
The divorced couple have had a tumultuous time in recent years with various high-profile court battles.
Sam and Phoebe tied the knot in 2015 and were separated by 2018, before getting back together in 2019 and then officially calling it off just a few months later.
Phoebe had accused the footballer of domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse during their marriage, sparking a year-long investigation.
The allegations cost the English rugby league great his coaching job with the Rabbitohs as well as commentary work for Fox Sports.
But investigators dropped the matter in October last year ruling he had no case to answer.
Burgess (pictured with Poppy and Billy) eventually drove away without incident – with the children’s gifts still sitting on the back seat
Hoping to get his life back on track Burgess is now set to take the role of head coach with the Orara Valley Axemen, near Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast for the 2022 season (pictured, Burgess celebrates the South Sydney Rabbitohs Grand Final win in 2014 with co-owner Russell Crowe)
Burgess also successfully appealed and overturned a conviction in March 2021, after being accused of intimidating Phoebe’s father Mitchell Hooke at the family’s Southern Highlands home.
He vehemently denied the accusations of abuse and domestic violence but did admit to using drugs.
The Grand Final-winning forward recently opened up about the emotional breakdown of the couple’s relationship on the Channel Seven reality show SAS Australia.
‘I don’t think I was the greatest husband at times,’ he said.
‘I embarrassed my wife. I had an affair with a girl – a woman in Melbourne.
‘I was away on tour and regretful that it happened. It would’ve been a tough place for Phoebe to be.
‘The last 18 months, I felt like a loser. My marriage broke down. I’d just retired from sport. My ex father-in-law had taken an AVO against me.’
Phoebe Burgess (pictured arriving at Moss Vale Local Court in 2020) has had a tumultuous relationship with the footy star
‘I’ve lost it all’: The footy star broke down in tears as a contestant on SAS Australia when he opened up about his marriage
With his life spiralling, Burgess revealed he eventually had to check himself in for a four-week stint in rehab.
‘The last 18 months have been crazy. Everything I touched turned to s**t,’ he said candidly.
‘I turned to drinking, taking drugs.
‘I thought I could manage it but it got to the point where I was pulled over for DUI with drugs in my system which is all over the press again and stops me from seeing my kids again and I just checked myself into rehab.’
Hoping to get his life back on track Burgess is now set to take the role of head coach with the Orara Valley Axemen, near Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast for the 2022 season.
He is also in talks to join England’s coaching staff for this year’s rugby league World Cup.
Burgess (pictured in at a Sydney court) successfully appealed and overturned a conviction in March 2021, after being accused of intimidating Phoebe’s father Mitchell Hooke at the family’s Southern Highlands home
Hoping to get his life back on track Burgess is now set to take the role of head coach with the Orara Valley Axemen, near Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast for the 2022 season
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