Tuesday 3 November 2015 16:33, UK
Sam Burgess will be staying with Bath, says coach Mike Ford, despite interest from rugby league clubs Leeds Rhinos and South Sydney.
The 26-year-old Yorkshireman returned to training with the Aviva Premiership side on Monday after being given time off following England's disappointing World Cup campaign.
He had been tipped to cut short his stay in the 15-man code and return to his old NRL club South Sydney, while Super League side Leeds Rhinos have also been linked with a move with chief executive Gary Hetherington saying they were keen if the player was available.
However, Ford, speaking to Sky Sports News HQ after Tuesday's training session at Bath, said: "Sam is here at the club, he's had 10 days off and he was always scheduled to come back Monday.
"He's rolled his sleeves up and got stuck into training on Monday and Tuesday. He's got a couple years left on his contract and he will see those out.
"I don't want a running commentary on Sam Burgess. We've had a good chat about his role at No 6 and he's developing there as quickly as he can.
"We want him to develop as quickly as possible to be that player we know he can be for Bath rugby club. That's in the back row playing the Bath way and he fits into that well.
"There's no drama here. He's rolled up his sleeves and got out there with a smile on his face and cracked on."
Burgess is 12 months into a three-year contract at Bath but speculation on his future gathered pace on Tuesday with Rhinos chief Hetherington stating they were willing and able to pay a transfer fee, especially after elite clubs voted this summer to introduce a marquee player rule into the salary-cap regulations.
"We've had a record year on and off the field and we would certainly be prepared to pay a transfer fee," said Hetherington.
"I've always said Leeds would not use the marquee player rule unless it was something exceptional and Burgess certainly comes into that category."
Ford included Burgess in his 41-man squad for this season's European Champions Cup, but revealed last week that the player "didn't quite feel right" on his return from World Cup duty.
