Sam Burgess has QUIT rugby union.
Bath, the club Burgess joined after leaving Rugby League a year ago, have announced his departure with immediate effect, according to the BBC.
TotalRL.com understands that a deal has been agreed for Burgess to re-sign with NRL side South Sydney Rabbitohs. Super League champions Leeds Rhinos are also thought to be tracking his developments but appear to have missed out on bringing him back to Super League.
Burgess had been given time off by Bath following the World Cup, in which time he has decided to call time on his short stint in the 15-man code.
The news comes after intense speculation in the media. He was heavily scrutinised in the press following his inclusion in England’s unsuccessful World Cup squad, leading to many people within Rugby League pleading for his return to the sport.
It is believed that England head coach Steve McNamara has no plans to use Burgess in the upcoming Test matches against New Zealand.
Just hours before this news came out, Bath owner Bruce Craig has insisted that he required a transfer fee of £800,000, compared to the fee of £275,000 (500,000 Australian dollars) Bath paid to South Sydney last year to secure his transfer from the NRL club.
