Thursday 5 November 2015 21:26, UK
Sam Burgess has left Bath and rugby union to return to NRL side South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The league convert ended a four-year spell with the Rabbitohs to cross codes in October 2014 and he was named in England's World Cup squad.
But his inclusion - at centre rather than at flanker where he played for Bath - in the England XV that lost to Wales divided opinion with many openly critical of the decision to play him ahead of recognised centres Luther Burrell and Kyle Eastmond..
Sam Burgess exit trouble for Stuart Lancaster, Stuart Barnes says
And despite Bath coach Mike Ford and club owner Bruce Craig this week insisting he would see out a three-year deal, it appears Burgess' flirtation with union is over after just one.
Sky sources understand Burgess will head to Sydney on a wage of £700,000 a year, a £200,000 raise on his salary at Bath.
Sky Sports News HQ reporter Phil Edwards said: "We're hearing Sam Burgess sent a round-robin text to all his Bath team-mates saying 'That's it. I'm going,' and that seems to be where these reports have emanated.
"It's not a surprise. The guy probably thought to himself 'I don't know if Stuart Lancaster is going to stay on as head coach of England and I don't know who his successor is going to be. Do I take the risk that whoever is in charge of England is going to want to pick me at inside centre at the next World Cup in Japan in 2019'.
"It's a big gamble to take and I guess he thought to himself my brothers are in Sydney, my mother is in Sydney and it made a lot of sense to go back.
"But it will be seen as a very sorry episode. I don't think you can blame Sam Burgess and I don't think those who do blame him should because he is a very decent chap and a good player.
"You have to question how it has been handled by England, the fact they went after him, had to find a club to take him in Bath. The RFU then said we'll help pay to bring him over, and the other clubs then said 'hang on a minute, you can't do that' - they are our competitors, it's not fair.
"Bath owner Bruce Craig then put his hand in his own pocket to pay for the move and then, of course, England lost control of where he was going to play. They couldn't say 'we want him to play at centre', and Bath wanted to play him as a flanker.
As for the future, Edwards added: "He's far better suited to rugby league. He's got nothing to prove in that sport, he was World Player of the Year [in 2014] and he's a colossus of the sport."
As reports of his departure began to leak out, former England centre Will Greenwood tweeted: "Am I hearing @SamBurgess8 has left Bath? If so rugby union has let the lad down..."
England rugby league coach Steve McNamara said there was no chance of Burgess being a late addition to his squad for the rest of the series against New Zealand, but he is looking forward to re-establishing their working relationship.
"Sam was never a consideration for this series. Right up until this day, when we found out he was coming back to rugby league, he was playing in rugby union," McNamara said.
"But he will be a great addition for us going forwards. We know his quality."
