Rumoured to have signed a 3 year deal at a English Rugby Union side thought to be bath.

Big loss for the RL world!

Thoughts?

Any new reports or are you talking about the stuff that came out a few days ago?

What I dont get is the press saying Sam is off to union, after a denial by the RFU about sounding him out and from the coverage I've seen, no quotes from anyone significant. Then they link Andrew Fifita to Souths as his replacement, a player that has actually said he'd like a switch to union and has spoken to the Wallabies coach Ewan McKenzie. Makes no sense to me, but I suppose a sensational headline sells papers and gets you hits on your website.

I don't blame him if he is getting a cash boost, he also has a chance of winning something at international level in RU unlike his chances in RL.

I don't blame him either, a lot of fans appear to be turning against him down under and there were rumours on twitter the other day that there is an Inglis V Burgess split in the Bunnies dressing room. I know twitter rumours should be treated with suspicion though.

It would be a terrible loss to rugby league if Sam did take the money and run. You can't blame him. It's a short career and you need to take care of number one. Loyalty only goes so far. He's been given absolutely everything by Souths and I honestly don't see the appeal with crossing codes. It's purely and simply for financial gain in my eyes.

If Sam does leave, I hope George and Tom don't follow him.

Would seem a strange move from Sam Burgess to be honest as everytime I've seen him interviewed or read anything about his move to the NRL he says was more the lifestyle etc rather than money and was he not considering seeking Australian Citizenship so he could stay there at the end of his career?

Very difficult for a forward to make the switch, such a different game in the pack. The money may tempt him but can't see it working out too well.

I'd normally agree with that but I don't think it would be for Sam if he stayed in Oz playing league. They love him over there & he's always sounded like a good speaker to me so I reckon he'd definitely have a future in the commentary side of things over there if he was interested.

I'd be sorry to see him wasting his talents in the garbage that is 6 nations yawnion but it is far from the end of the world. Careers are short, new talent emerges. The only constant is the excruciating dullness of the yawnion kicking competitions.

usual problem for a league forward changing codes is where to play him. prop out of the question, and he's not tall enough for line out work in the back row. could feasably play at no.8 in a loose forward type roll, but most likely to end up at centre

Back row and loose forward are the same thing in union. The name refers to the two flankers and no8. He's be too short for second row/lock but would be a decent flanker or no8. But there is no way in hell he's going to develop the neccessary skills to be an international class loose forward in one season. Getting to grips with the breakdown will take him a while for a start. The talk is of him playing inside centre, meaning England must be going for a big battering ram centre pairing with him and Manu Tuilangi. Assuming its true and assuming he makes the grade.

he'd probably end up playing centre like Andy Farrell did. a real shame if he does go to union

I would say that this exposes the need for the ability to sign a marquee signing outside the salary cap. Mind, I'm not convinced its just the money he's going for (if he does). Possibly wants the privilege of not winning a world cup in either code

not big enough for forwards and not quick enough for centre, union is a total different ball game, but suppose money talks