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Sam Burgess has left Bath with immediate effect
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Former Bath man hails ‘wonderful’ 12 months in Rugby Union
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The Cross-code convert had two years left on a three-year deal
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The 26-year-old was part of the England squad which went out of their home World Cup in the group stages.
It’s Official… Sam Burgess is back in League. Burgess has hailed a ‘wonderful’ 12 months in Rugby Union after his return to South Sydney Rabbitohs, and Rugby League, which was officially announced this evening.
After joining up with Bath late last year, where his side fell short of silverware, Burgess was selected for England’s ill-fated World Cup campaign and has been granted a release from the final two years of his deal with the Somerset outfit, but has praised the sport he leaves behind, claiming he has benefited as a player from his year-long stint in Union.
Commenting of the move, he said: ” I want to thank everyone at England Rugby and Bath for some great memories over the last 12 months.
“I must also thank Bath especially for granting my release to return home to my family who I have missed more than I could have imagined.
“I had a wonderful time in England and learnt a lot about the game of Rugby Union as both a back and a forward, and I have definitely developed as an all-round player and athlete after that.
“I am also extremely excited to be joining back up with South Sydney,” he continued.
“I cannot wait to get back into the Rabbitohs culture, full of great people and passionate members and supporters.
“I’m now very lucky to be given the chance to come back to Souths and serve this club and its members.
“I look forward to getting stuck into training with all the boys and working hard for the upcoming season.”
Rabbitohs Head Coach Michael Maguire was left delighted with the news and added, “I could not be happier to see Sam coming home to the Rabbitohs.
“He had an enormously positive impact on our club, both on and off the field, throughout the five seasons he was here, and to be bringing back one of the game’s most dominant players is fantastic for not only our club, but the game itself.
“He wanted to test himself in Rugby Union and he achieved many of his goals, becoming a dual International for England and representing his country at the Rugby World Cup.
“The next chapter is for him to return to the game he was born to play, and we’re over the moon that he is coming home to do that with his Rabbitohs family here at South Sydney.”