A NSW country rugby player is accused of having sex with an underage girl and grooming others.
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Parkes man Jonah Anthony Ruzgas, 20, allegedly preyed on the girls, aged 13 and 14, over many months in the Bathurst region.
He interacted with some girls socially and via smart phone, in which he allegedly sent and sought intimate images.
Ruzgas, a second-rower picked in the NSW Country Colts Squad in 2019, was playing first grade for Charles Sturt University Mitchell Rugby Club until his arrest in May.
There's no suggestion his involvement with the club related to his alleged crimes.
After nearly three months on remand, Ruzgas was granted bail by the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday.
His lawyer pointed to a recent statement made to police by the complainant alleging Ruzgas had sex with her.
The statement indicated the girl was hesitant about participating in the prosecution and may not assist further, he said.
But a prosecutor said the girl's hesitation was linked purely to her mental health and discomfort about a certain person knowing about the allegations.
Justice Peter Johnson agreed with that assessment, saying the uncertainty about whether to participate in the prosecution was not an indication her allegation was untrue.
The alleged crimes were "troubling", involved exploitative actions and were more than a single incident, the judge said.
But Justice Johnson decided Ruzgas' risk to the community could be mitigated with strict bail conditions effectively necessitating home detention in Penrith with his grandfather.
He cannot be unaccompanied in the community, must not use a mobile phone and cannot enter certain Central West towns except to appear in court as required.
Justice Johnson suggested the Bathurst magistrate hearing Ruzgas's court matter allow him to appear via video link, given Penrith is currently a focus of Sydney's ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
He is next due in court on September 1.
The footballer, who has no prior criminal history, faces 12 charges.
They include sexual intercourse with a child aged between 10 and 14 years, supplying a prohibited drug to a child under 16 and multiple counts of grooming a child for sexual activity.
The court was told delays due to the pandemic mean Ruzgas may not face trial before the end of 2022.
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Australian Associated Press
