Footy star and accused rapist Jack de Belin, 29, reveals shock testicular cancer diagnosis and how he secretly underwent emergency surgery to save his life during his high-profile trial
NRL star Jack de Belin underwent surgery for testicular cancer during his high-profile rape trial.
The 29-year-old reportedly found a lump in his testicle earlier this year and had surgery to remove it in September.
De Belin kept his diagnosis hidden throughout the trial with only close friends and St George staff aware of his condition.
Jack de Belin reportedly found a lump in his testicle earlier on in the year and underwent surgery in September
His surgery came just two months before the trial began in November where he pleaded not guilty to five counts of aggravated sexual assault.
The Dragons forward is expected to make a full recovery, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The cancer scare has added to his tumultuous year, with his future plans now stalled after a jury were unable to reach a verdict last week. A retrial has been scheduled for April.
Along with co-accused Callan Sinclair, 23, de Belin, will defend five charges of aggravated sexual assault in the Downing Centre in Sydney from April 12.
A jury in Wollongong Local Court were unable to deliver a unanimous verdict against either accused man despite nine hours of deliberating.
Jack de Belin (pictured left) and Callan Sinclair each pleaded not guilty to five counts of aggravated sexual assault following the encounter in December of 2018
Jack de Belin is pictured with his long-term partner Alyce Taylor. He will face court again next April
The jury foreperson said the group would 'absolutely not' even be able to reach a majority verdict and was thus discharged and the trial abandoned.
Three weeks of evidence was heard in the high-profile trial against the two players, who have always maintained the threesome with the 19-year-old victim at an address in North Wollongong in December, 2018, was consensual.
If found not guilty, Mr de Belin, 29, could save his NRL career.
He has sat out the past two seasons for the St George Illawarra Dragons after he was banned under the code's controversial no-fault stand down policy.
The trial is tipped to last three weeks.