Sam Burgess ‘Considering’ Rugby League Return
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England centre Sam Burgess is on the verge of quitting rugby union and has been given time off by Bath to consider a return to rugby league.
Reports in Australia suggest he is set to go back to former NRL club the South Sydney Rabbitohs less than a year after switching codes.
The 26-year-old is due to make a decision in the coming days, says BBC Radio 5 live’s Alastair Eykyn.
Burgess’s selection for England’s World Cup squad was met with criticism.
He had only made his union debut for Premiership side Bath in November and won his first England union cap against France in August.
Despite being regarded as a back-rower for his club, England head coach Stuart Lancaster selected him at centre for the recent World Cup – in which hosts England failed to progress from the group stage.
He had returned to his homeland last year, switched codes and signed with Bath, where he still has two years to run on his contract, with the aim of playing in a home World Cup.
On Tuesday, Bath head coach Mike Ford confirmed Burgess would be rested for Saturday’s Premiership game with Harlequins, but rubbished reports of him leaving the club.
“It is frustrating and I think most of it is made up,” Ford told BBC Radio Bristol.
“There has always been a story there with Sam and this is the latest one.”
