REPORTS | Luther Burrell set for Union return after Warrington release

The centre, who was unlucky to miss out on the 2015 World Cup squad, asked for his release following a lack of game time.

“There has to come a point where you look at the situation honestly and ask: how much more can you take of this?” he said.

“I was doing everything I could but the opportunities just weren’t presenting themselves.”

Despite his lack of games, the 32-year-old is still confident that he can play at the highest level.

“I want to come back to union,” he said. “I’m so hungry. I’ll go on to the open market and hopefully someone will be fishing for a centre; 12 or 13.

“Just give me the call and I’ll be there tomorrow morning. My boots are already in the car.

“I’ve not forgotten how to play union in the space of a year. My final Saints game was against Ben Te’o, who was in the England squad and I scored with my first touch.

“I’m in better shape now, but if I have to go and prove myself somewhere on a trial for a couple of weeks, then I’m prepared to do that."

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Farrell earned eight England caps in a steady playing career in Union. He made a tryscoring appearance for England in the 2007 World Cup, but his achievements in League remained the biggest success of his career on the field, winning five league titles, four Challenge Cups and two Golden Boot awards (awarded to the best player in the world), in his ten-year career with Wigan Warriors.

The now 40-year-old has enjoyed a fine coaching career in his adopted sport, helping Saracens to the 2011 Premiership title before playing a key role in England's growth, which has included his 24-year-old son, Owen, in recent years.

After starting his RL career with NRL side New Zealand Warriors, Hape enjoyed a stunning five-year stint with Bradford Bulls. He was named in their 'Team of the Century' while picking up 14 caps for New Zealand's national side before switching codes in 2008, joining Bath.

In RU, he retained his position as a centre and, after a slow start, he became a crucial weapon in Bath's armory. He qualified for England through residency and received his first call up during the 2009/10 season. He tasted defeat on his international bow in the sport but played a part in England's memorable win over the Wallabies in Australia in only his second appearance for the Red Rose.

After earning 13 caps and scoring two tries, the now 34-year-old took in spells with London Irish and Montpellier before retiring in 2013, citing concussion problems as the reason for the early end to his playing days.

Ashton switched codes aged 20, just two years after his senior debut in League. But he took Rugby Union by storm.

The then teenager was an impressive mainstay of the Wigan side during a challenging period, but his impact in Union was instant - he scored with his first ever touch of a ball in the sport after coming on as a substitute for Northampton in a 44-11 Division One win over London Welsh.

He would eventually go on to notch a whopping 39 tries in 25 appearances as Northampton secured promotion back to the top flight in 2008, where he would again impress, subsequently earning an England call up in 2010.

Shontayne Hape's partner in crime at Bradford, 'The Volcano' enjoyed a remarkable spell with the Bulls, scoring 149 tries in 152 appearances for the West Yorkshire side before moving to Gloucester in 2007.

His Rugby Union career could barely have got off to a better start as he scored five tries against Leeds Carnegie on his debut. With an almost unstoppable combination of speed and strength to carry his 18 stone frame, the winger's style of play soon earned admirers. Though age robbed him of some of his best attributes, 180 points in 87 games for the Kingsholm side was seen as a success.

One of the toughest men to ever play the game. Known for his sheer work ethic and commitment to the cause, Thorn played 200 times for Brisbane Broncos across two stints for the NRL side, enjoying a seven year career in Union between 2000 and 2007. A dual international, now aged 40, the towering lock only retired this year having racked up 60 caps for New Zealand, an international career which ended in style as he helped the All Blacks pick up the 2011 World Cup crown.

He played for Super Rugby's Crusaders before spending time at Leinster where he won the Heineken Cup in 2012. After a year with the Highlanders, Thorn finally found himself in the Premiership, playing 12 times for Leicester Tigers last season before announcing his retirement in April.

Tuqiri was the top tryscorer for Brisbane during his first three years in the NRL around the turn of the century. The hefty winger also played six State of Origin matches for Queensland and earned nine caps for Australia. He took to rugby union in 2003 with relative ease, scoring a try in the World Cup final the same year. The now 36-year-old played Super Rugby with the Waratahs between 2003 and 2009, earning 67 caps with the Wallabies and playing in two World Cups in the process.

He returned to League in 2010 with Wests Tigers before ending his career in style, playing a worthy part in South Sydney's Sam Burgess-inspired 2014 title win.

Man of the Match in both Premiership and Challenge Cup final successes for Saints in the 2013/14 season, Myler has firmly established himself as the main man at Franklin's Gardens. His 'rugby brain' is one of the sharpest in the Premiership and his qualities have been the heartbeat of Northampton's must successful period in their history. But it all started for him in the 13-a- side code.

Born in the Rugby League hotbed of Widnes in Cheshire, the 31-year-old had a solid if unspectacular career in Rugby League, starting his career with St Helens before steady spells as a stand off at Widnes Vikings and Salford City Reds.

After failing to really light up the sport, the one-cap England man jumped at the chance of a change, taking up the offer of a contract at Northampton in 2006 where he has been a major success, leading his side to multiple titles. He has racked up well over 2,000 points - just the second player to reach that milestone - in 261 appearances for the East Midlands side. Viewed by many as a talent who has been unfortunate to be overlooked on the International stage.

One of the most successful League to Union converts, Robinson, a product of the Hunslet Parkside amateur side, became one of Wigan's greatest ever players in a trophy-laden eight-year spell which took in five league titles and three challenge cups.

After a surprise switch of codes, to Sale Sharks, he became the first ever player to win both a Super League and a Premiership title. He secured a spot in the Lions tour to Australia later that year and went on to score a memorable try in the opening test against Australia. However, his career highlight came in 2003 when he played a starring role in England's World Cup triumph, playing every game and scoring a try in the final. He retired with an incredible record of 30 tries in just 56 England appearances.

He has a 21-year-old son, Lewis Tierney, a flying back who is on the books of Wigan Warriors. A star in the making? Time will tell.

The all-conquering Williams was bought out of his contract with NRL club Canterbury Bulldogs in the middle of the 2008 season, taking up a two-year deal with French Union side Toulon. He then went back to New Zealand to join the Crusaders and played in 19 Tests for the All Blacks including games in their successful 2011 World Cup side before a dominant 2012 season as an prolific offloader, helping bring up a Super Rugby title for the Chiefs.

He made the lucrative switch to Japanese rugby in 2012 before a hugely successful stint back in League with Sydney Roosters, where he won the 2013 NRL title before playing in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup where New Zealand reached the final.

Arguably the only player who is seemingly able to switch between the two sports at will, he returned to Union this year in preparation for the Rugby Union World Cup, where he was played a form part as New Zealand look to rumbled towards retaining their title.

Just for good measure, he is also New Zealand's heavyweight boxing champion.