I would have thought that Andy Farrell and Mike Ford would know more about transitioning to RU from RL than myself, but I don't see this as a good move for Sam or for England RU.

The only real RL to RU success story is Jason Robinson. And that was due to his quick feet which allowed him to take advantage of even slower footed defenders to race into gaps and create havoc. (This is why I expected Kyle Eastmond to be a RU success but improved defensive athleticsm appears to have diminished his impact.)

I do not see Burgess's skill set succeeding at the top level in RU. Yes, he may develop into a marginal England starter, but he will not be the once in a generation player he was in RL. His offloading is ill suited to union, his charging runs will be hurt by the necessity to position yourself to maintain the ball and his bone crunching defence will again be impacted by the need to try to win the breakdown.

Centre is the only position Burgess can play in RU. He will not learn scrummaging quickly enough to make an impact there. However, with Manu Tuilagi firmly ensconced in one centre position, Burgess's inclusion will only ensure that England have a complete lack of guile in the centres, and they will struggle as a result of that.

I hope I am wrong, however. I would love to see Burgess play a starring role in winning the World Cup in 2015.

Good point in him not been playing much for England RL over the last couple of years, however after a rise in performances from England in the WC and particularly SB been awesome England were looking to build a team around Burgess, sadly thats now gone. Who is the future England Captain? How long will it be until Tomkins does the same? Its an awful day for Rugby League. I dont think the response on here warrants anywhere near how bad this is.

3 steps forward from the WC, 6 steps backwards. I think Marwan Koucash is a bit of a clueless idiot with his views to the salary cap, however I wish he could open his cheque book and get SB into SL.

Sam who?

Burgess. Are you new to RL?

Who? I know there a three brothers that play for Sydney, Tom, George and Luke...Sam? Never heard of him.

All this wailing is ridiculous. Superleague has taken a decision to cut off access to the world's best players by sticking with a very low cap. Some people think this is good for the game, some don't, but it's what's been decided. If you seriously think world-class players in their prime are going to come from the NRL or RU to Superleague, you're delusional. We made the decision to block money out of the game in order to allow the likes of Wakefield to 'catch up'. It was a never going to be without consequences, so all we can do is live with those consequences. Blaming players, former players, whatever, is a load of BS. We set it up this way, for better or worse. Can't have it both ways. Nothing will change in respect of attracting world-class players with the current system in place, so get used to it. SL is in, at best, the 'second tier' of world rugby, by choice.

Recent converts aren't exactly setting the world alight.

Chris Ashton had a few good years, however he now seems to have fallen out of favour at international level.

Kyle Eastmond has played a couple of meaningless internationals and does get England Saxons selections, I doubt they'll trust him in a serious international.

Joel Tomkins was possibly going to be outside centre for England, however he got injured towards the end of 2013.

To be fair, there were posts from Aussie based species that said, aside from his playing ability, Burgess was starting to get a very bad rep as a "grub", as they like to put it.

Its a funny one, I haven't particularly read the figures quoted, but given the bumper new NRL deal, it seems like money won't be the only reason he's gone.
Maybe its to emulate SBW's achievements of being a dual international, maybe he longs for the stardom in his homeland that England RU has given him, maybe he sees more opportunities for after his playing career if he's played union, maybe he thinks his career will last longer playing a lower impact sport (or that he'll be in better nick when he finishes), maybe he's shagged Tom's girlfriend and none of the other Burgesses are talking to him?

Honestly, I just find it pathetic.

Money talks etc = Yeah, cos he will be on peanuts at the NRL = Greed
Homesick = Fine, then go with the game that made you, again its not like you wont be able to afford to live = Greed
Bigger Internationals = Boring internationals, possible scapegoat, but higher national recognition in England = Ego

In short, very disappointed.

I know I sound bitter but I would have zero sympathy if he failed at Union and came back wanting a new contract.

I would have even less if the NRL told him where to go if that was the case.

Kyle Eastmond touches the ball about 5 times in an average match for Bath. Rest assured that they will have every last ounce of creativity and confidence ripped out of him and he will return to RL in a few years as a pale shadow of his former self.

So, if you left the job you are currently in, to go and live in another country by the beach, on possibly 3 times as much as you are on now for 5 years, and you decided that you wanted to come home - would you want to come back to that same job you were doing before, for 3 times less money than you had been earning for the last 5 years and basically go back to that same position you were in before you left (therefore going backwards in your career) you would do that?

Or, would you take the chance to come back home, still earn the same money, or maybe more, and challenge yourself in a new role and use the skills you have learned in your last job?

It's not greed, it's common sense. At the end of the day it's his job, and anyone in any other job in the world would do exactly the same thing - and if they say they wouldn't they are lying! Everyone wants a better job for more money, it's the way of the world I'm, afraid!