I think that is exactly what GH is aiming for. Its pretty much the only way the deal can be done, unless we release more shirts next year than we have this.........

To bring in such a rule would need clubs to vote for this. I think 4 or 5 might vote yes and the rest wouldn't entertain it. If Leeds want him they will probably have to fund this themselves.

Because he could go back to union in 2 years and have just as good a chance of getting back in the next WC side as he would if he stuck out the four years? That, of course, also assumes he wishes to repeat the spectator experience the next time the tournament reaches its semi final stage.

I don't think you are right about this point. If he walks away from Bath and RU at this point in time I can't see him getting a second go. That would be especially true if Lancaster and Farrell end up paying the price for Englands spectacular failure to progress in their home World Cup. I think the choice he's making is whether he has any further interest in being an RU player / drawing RU wages. If he dips out I think he's finished with RU, on the other hand he could come back to league any time he wants.

He might be finished in any case, depending on who wins the power struggle at the RFU.

The bulls fan with the long name - Maccaabullybooooooaaaaaazzzzzaaa - or similar, has just asked whether Caisley's still SB's manager over on the VT. Anyone know? Interesting negotiations with GH if so.

All the noise coming out of Bath, mostly through Mike Ford, is that Burgess is committed to staying and will be playing in Bath's upcoming European games at 6.

I get the feeling it would take an astronomical offer to convince Bath to part with him, and to induce Burgess to leave Bath and move back north.

Travelling up to Leigh to watch a RL international whilst his Bath teammates are playing one of the top teams in the division doesn't strike me as too committed to his RU cause.

So clearly many ifs in Burgess signing but if he did sign for a year before heading to Oz what are people's thoughts on:
His best position? Prob 13 for me but he can play prop and 2nd row, or centre lol.
And his fitness. He will have gone to GF with Souths, short break for his bust cheek then into ru and then possibly straight in rl pre season training if it drags on. That's a lot coupled with the inevitable fitness loss from sitting on a ru bench.

Mike Ford has been consistent in saying Burgess has a big future in Union and has been saying for weeks that he wants to increase the length of his contract. He signed him as a 6 and only played him at centre to ease him into playing Union and because Lancaster had request it.

In fact it was against Lancaster's wishes that Ford swapped him to 6 where he has made good progress under the tutelage of Francois Louw one of the best flankers in the world. I agree with Ford and believe he will make a good Union back rower possibly a ball carrying No 8.

Whilst World Cups are a good thing to aim for we should not forget that the England team play a lot of internationals every year and most of these are sell out occasions. So there will be plenty of chance to play on the big stage all over the world before the next World Cup. Apart from the annual Six Nations there are annual fixtures against most of the top sides both home and away and coming up is a Lions tour of NZ in 2017 which for many players is a greater experience than a World Cup. All these will bring in extra pay and celebrity status.

So Sam has many things to consider before leaving Union in a pique and I have a feeling he will want to become a big success and prove his doubters wrong.

I really hope we can persuade him to sign for the Rhinos but the longer the delay the more chance he will stay put IMO.

Maybe. But on the other hand seeing so few people attend a League International at Leigh will bring him down to earth with a bang after experiencing the buzz from the 80,000 at Twickenham.

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maybe.Sam strikes me as a guy who enjoys being the main man though.In RL the day he left lifting the NRL title and clive churchill medal he was just that.In RU its now clear he is not going to cut it at centre long term at international level.If he stays and learns his trade as flanker it could be 1-2 years before he forces his way back into the England fold and even then, it will take some going to become one of the very best in that position over that period so no certainties.These are his prime years too,meanwhile, he still has the get out of slotting right back into the game he left not 1 year ago and become a main man again.Guess we will know soon but if he intends to stick it out why not come out and quash these growing rumours?

But IMO Burgess has all that is required to make it as a back rower and looking at the opposition lets not pretend England are blessed with world class forwards because they are not. He has the physique and fitness to cover the ground in defence and attack it is not as though we have flankers that can turn the ball over as it is or not give penalties away. Ok he has to learn to either lift or be lifted in the lineout... not really rocket science is it. So I think he could well be back in contention within a year and this time he would be selected on merit.

Well I hope the rumours prove to be true and we see him at Headingley next season

There are enough bits of this puzzle to outline 2 very different pictures. One where he stays in RU and one where he comes back to RL. Convincing scenarios have been put together for both options, but we don't know what his plans are and we're just going to have to wait this one out.

After surveying all the evidence and seperating the fact from the fiction I've developed a hypothesis, that Burgess will either stay in RU or return to league.