ENGLAND RUGBY UNION international Sam Burgess has left Premiership club Bath with immediate effect in order to return to rugby league side South Sydney Rabbitohs, it’s been confirmed.
The 26-year-old had two years left on a three-year deal with west country side Bath. He’s re-joined the Rabbitohs until the end of the 2018 season.
Burgess was a member of the England squad that recently became the first World Cup host nation to exit the tournament in the group stages, with coach Stuart Lancaster criticised for what many saw as his overly rapid promotion into the Test side.
It was only last year, after helping South Sydney win the Australian NRL Grand Final, that Burgess changed codes with the express ambition of playing for England at the World Cup.
The end of his brief spell in union is likely to prove highly embarrassing for both Bath and Lancaster, whose position as England coach is currently being scrutinised as part of a Rugby Football Union review into the team’s woeful World Cup campaign.
The news comes less than 24 hours after Bath owner Bruce Craig said Burgess would be seeing out the remainder of his contract.
“Sam is with us for the next two years and is under contract,” said Craig.
“No one has come in for Sam. At the moment he’s with us and is in our (European) Champions Cup squad. We’re not in negotiations with anyone.”
Only last week, Bath coach Mike Ford — himself a former rugby league player — was equally adamant Burgess would stay at the Recreation Ground.
Burgess’s selection for the England rugby union side was all the more controversial as despite Bath’s preference for playing him as a flank forward, Lancaster deployed him in the back-line position of inside centre.
His inclusion meant far more experienced centre Luther Burrell missed out on a place in the England squad.
Burgess, who only won the first of his five England caps in a World Cup warm-up in August, made three appearances during the tournament proper, but only one start, and failed to make much of an impression.
“I want to thank everyone at England Rugby and Bath for some great memories over the last 12 months,” Burgess said.
“I must also thank Bath especially for granting my release to return home to my family who I have missed more than I could have imagined.
“I am also extremely excited to be joining back up with South Sydney. I cannot wait to get back into the Rabbitohs culture, full of great people and passionate Members and supporters.
“I had a wonderful time in England and learnt a lot about the game of Rugby Union as both a back and a forward, and I have definitely developed as an all-round player and athlete after that.
“I’m now very lucky to be given the chance to come back to Souths and serve this Club and its Members.
“I look forward to getting stuck into training with all the boys and working hard for the upcoming season.”
