Sam Burgess
Former England coach Sir Clive Woodward says English rugby union is a “laughing stock” after Sam Burgess returned to Rugby League.
Burgess was part of the England squad which went out of their home Rugby World Cup in the group stages.
He will now leave Bath and rejoin South Sydney Rabbitohs in Australia.
Woodward, who led England to 2003 Rugby World Cup success, said he did not blame Burgess “for this mess” but the English game was at one of its “all-time lows”.
Burgess, from Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, played 21 games for Bath after joining them just over a year ago, scoring 4 tries.
Having made his England debut in August, he was selected for the Rugby World Cup ahead of Northampton centre Luther Burrell, who had looked to have established himself in the team after playing in all 5 of their Six Nations matches earlier in the year.
Burgess, who had been playing at blindside flanker for his club, was picked at centre for the hosts against Wales in the Rugby World Cup and his selection sparked much debate.
“The RFU has spent the last 4 years congratulating itself on the direction in which we’re heading, but the truth is we have marched confidently into a total mess,” said Woodward.
“We are the laughing stock of not only world rugby but also sport and business. The rest of the world says those involved in English rugby are arrogant. I hate this reputation, but that is exactly what the RFU has been.
“The saddest part is the players and fans have been let down. To get it right on the field of play you have to get it right off the field.”
Burgess says family reasons were behind his decision to return to Rugby League after 1 season in Rugby Union.
“We hoped that Sam would stay at Bath,” said Bath head coach Mike Ford. “He was doing really well in making the switch over from league and, given time, he could’ve been a great rugby union player.
“Unfortunately, for personal reasons, he is returning to Australia.”
bbc
I know we already have an article about Burgess leaving Bath but added this one giving the latest perspective from Sir Clive too.
@ Bullscot:
I see that the Rugbyblog has given quite a bit of article space to the Burgess saga.
Over here it hasn’t really meant too much, very little press given about his switch and what he could or couldn’t do when he signed at Union.
Seems like it’s quite a big deal in the UK though?
@ nortie:
Hi nortie yes it has been big news over here. May be wrong but feel the mainstream media resistance/negativety came quite late on more especially once things started going wrong at the World Cup for England. On here we (or at least me) were against it from the start. Just didn’t like the idea of the timing of the switch conveniently in a World Cup season and the preferential treatment that thought would accompany the move.
@ nortie:
As time went on tried to be more positive about it, after all one of my favourite players here from the past Jason Robinson also switched in World Cup season and was fast-tracked but at least he stayed on in Union for a long time and stuck to playing in the backs. From early on thought Burgess tackling technique was dangerous, all the coaching he got never really sorted it and although I got it wrong as I thought it would cost England a card in the Cup he was very lucky not to get a card along with Farrell in the game against Oz.
@ nortie:
Not sure who all in English rugby made the decision and investment as well as Bath Rugby but there seems to have been some difference of opinion as to where he should play but in the end England got his way ay centre. Think if any of the current coaching staff had any choice on the matter then it will be very hard for them to remain in post. Will be harf for squad morale I think, for example how do they deal with bringing the main one who lost out – Luther Burrell back into the squad for 6 Nations?
4 @ Bullscot:
I was also quite a Robinson fan, great player that was.
It probably helped him that he came into the side while they were hugely successful and settled.
Some of the Aussie league players did quite well, but some who come with such a big fanfare don’t always make it, like that Carmichael Hunt fellow.
Everyone is looking for the next big thing, and short tracking people don’t always work
Fasttracking in England (a different version of it) always let me think of Zola Budd and swimmer Anette Cowley.
Both cases ended badly.
Some of the ex league players were outrageously talented though and added a lot to Union so I can understand the ” next big thing” syndrome.
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