The Bath head coach, Mike Ford, says Sam Burgess would have stayed with his club and rugby union had England not picked him for the World Cup.
Ford believes that had the 26-year‑old, whose return to the NRL was announced on Thursday, not been selected by Stuart Lancaster less than a year after switching codes and instead spent pre-season with Bath, he would have been likely to stay.
“I know he’s played for England but it was the start of his career at Bath and it’s a pity he didn’t have pre-season with us.”
Speaking after Bath’s 45-14 win at London Irish, Ford added: “It was a time to roll up his sleeves and crack on. If he stayed with us [rather than being picked for the World Cup] I think he might be still here. He could have learned all his stuff with Bath but I think the disappointment of England knocked him hard.” England were knockedout in the pool stages with a game to spare, after defeats to Wales and Australia.
Ford also admitted he did not know when Burgess made his mind up, following reports last week he had been in contact with South Sydney Rabbitohs just hours after England’s World Cup exit.
“I’m hoping it’s not [preordained] but I can’t answer that question, he kept mentioning he wanted to play with his brothers, his mother [is in Australia], he’s getting married [over there] in December.
“I was hoping he would get through this week and we’d win and then we’d go to Toulon and he’d get excited again but we never got that chance.”
