Former England internationalSam Burgess has called his then-Bath coach Mike Ford “a snake” in a tell all interview.
The now retired star accused Ford of using the rugby league convert as a “pawn” to play politics during England’s dire 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign.
“Mike Ford wanted the England coaching job,” Burgess told the House of Rugby podcast.
“I had to tell him I couldn’t play for him anymore. I’d lost respect for him.”
“With George, Mike kind of infiltrated the camp – that is my take on it,” added Burgess.
“After me starting against Wales, my relationship with George completely changed, he wouldn’t talk to me, he was a bit sulky.
“Knowing what I know now, I see the politics. George came on with 10 minutes to go to keep Mike and George happy. We didn’t need him on, we had the team to finish the game.”
JOIN THE RUCK
“I went back to Bath and I couldn’t sit in the same room as Mike. It was pretty hot to be honest,” said Burgess.
“I went straight into his office and said ‘Mike I don’t trust you, I think you have been playing games behind my back, you have used me as a bit of a pawn in your game of chess, I can’t put my boots on and play for you every week’.
“I will never forget his face when I said, ‘I can’t respect you, I think you are a bit of a snake.’ I remember the quiver that I got from him.”
LIST | 4 rugby league stars who flopped for England
They were built up to be international stars after switching to rugby union, but it simply didn’t work out long-term…
1. Sam Burgess
England, who fast-tracked Burgess into their World Cup squad in defiance of logic, Bath and the player himself each shoulder varying degrees of blame for arguably the greatest cross-code flop in history. We’re not saying he was an awful player, but the whole thing was a complete disaster.
