Bath and England star Sam Burgess is considering a return to Rugby League, only a year after he switched codes to Union. The 26-year-old featured for England in this year’s World Cup and came under heavy criticism for his performances.
Now, BBC Sport reports that Burgess has been given time off by Premiership side Bath to review his position and come to a decision over whether to continue playing Union for Bath or return to League and secure a possible return to the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
While playing for Bath, Burgess had predominantly played as a back-rower but England coach Stuart Lancaster decided to play Burgess at centre in the World Cup which resulted in the player coming under heavy criticism.
Former England scrum-half Matt Dawson claims that Burgess was let down by those surrounding him who led him to believe he could be an equally successful Union player as he was a League player.
“He’s been let down by whoever is responsible for sowing the seed in his mind that he could achieve what he has in rugby league. “He is one of the greatest rugby league players to ever play the game but to have the confidence, verging on arrogance, to suggest that he could do the same in a completely different game, in a decision-making position, has been shown up. Whether he stays or not, it is another dirty chapter in the story that is not really his making.”
Dawson went on to suggest that if he were in Burgess’ position then he would revert back to League in a heartbeat.
“If I was in his position – given the choice of being a superstar rugby league player or tried week in week out in rugby union – I know what I would do.”
