It would be a massive loss to the game, no doubt about it. It's a shame, as I generally thought he'd be one of those players who stay in the game and ignore the Union interest - like Lockyer, Slater etc. We need to hope and pray George and Tom stay, but I won't be happy if he's trying to convince them to join him. People can talk about money, but without the RFU, interest would Bath be able to tempt him? I'm sure he'd make more money at club level playing for Souths than Bath. But if it's all to play in the RUWC, then it's a bit ridiculous really. He'll have one year to be good enough to make the squad, otherwise it's pretty much a pointless move.

I really don't get why Union are so desperate to sign RL players though, not just England, but in France, Australia, NZ etc. There are far more union than league players in this country, why are they not able to produce like RL does?

Gutted he's moved, loved watching him play for Souths and England but you do what's best for youself at the end of the day.

The big change for Sam is going to be the break down in Union and how quickly he adapts to the rules. That alone is why I don't think he'll be a forward, not in the first year or so anyway.

I think Sam's got all the attributes to succeed in the code. but needs to be given time to adapt.

England aren't lacking in , with the likes of Manu Tuilagi, Twelevetress, Barrit & Burrell but I wouldn't be surprised if Sam gets to the font of the cue. I'd love to see him up against the Welsh Roberts.

Spot on.

I think Sam is a great (by English standards) RL player for this generation (but that's a weak generation) but overall he's just another player and when he's gone he'll be forgotton about. There's better players than him who have left the game, got injured, retired.

Agreed.
His departure doesn't impact the current SL as he wasn't competing in it (or likely to for a long time, maybe never). As I've said before, during and after the WC, the International game is made up of too few top teams (just 3 really) to be the main focus going forward.

What development and what England RL team?
Seriously?
3 games this year at 6.30am or worse for the TV public and not a sausage for the fans in the UK to watch "in the flesh".

By the time the RLWC 2017 comes along, Burgess might have played a dozen England RL Internationals at most.....if he's fast tracked into the national Union squad he'll see 4 times that action with 50% of those in front of 80K packed stadiums and in front of 8 million BBC viewers.

BTW, if you believe the RFU would select 1 player in a move designed to sabotage an entire national squad.....and a forward at that, you really do need to get down to the Hive this year.....you and the Broncos are both as mad as a bag of spanners