Bath have made clear they view their new signing Sam Burgess as a forward and will not be pressured by England into picking him at centre. The club also indicated that Burgess, who has swapped rugby league for union after helping South Sydney win the Australian Grand Final with a fractured cheekbone, was unlikely to make his club debut before mid-December.
While England’s management remain hopeful Burgess will force his way into their midfield equation before next year’s World Cup, Bath’s head coach, Mike Ford, believes the 25-year-old’s union future lies in the pack. “If you want my gut feeling, I think Sam’s going to play in the back row,” he said.
“I’ve got a good relationship with Stuart Lancaster, we’ve not really talked about Sam positionally. The decision will be Bath’s and Sam’s. He will learn the game over the next six weeks or so and will play when he is ready. I am sure he will have a say on where he thinks he is best suited.”
Burgess’s priority is to regain full fitness having relocated to the West Country from Australia. He said he had spent four days of his recuperation from facial surgery drinking beer on Russell Crowe’s farm in New South Wales but is now looking forward to a new challenge in the Premiership. “I’ve always had an ambition to play rugby union,” said Burgess.
“Everyone has goals and ambitions. Mine is to get fit and find a spot in Mike’s team. I don’t know where that is yet. The midfield has been doing a good job, [I’ll play] wherever’s best for the team and wherever Mike feels is the best fit.”
The 6ft 5in Yorkshireman does not know how long it will take before he feels comfortable playing in the 15-a-side code. “I wish I could give you an answer. I’d like to think straight away but that is probably ludicrous. Hopefully I can hit the ground running but if not, it’s not the end of the world. I’ve got two-and-a-half years at Bath and that gives me plenty of time to get in good shape and learn the game as best I can. I’m excited about that.”
Whatever happens, Ford has pledged not to dilute the strengths which have made Burgess a legend in league. “The way we are trying to play at Bath will suit Sam’s style and Sam’s skill-set. More than half the rugby league players to come across have been signed for what they can do in league, then changed as a union player. I’m pretty adamant that one thing I won’t do is change Sam. The gameplan will suit him and the 14 other people on the field. It’s not just about Sam. But I’d be stupid to put him on the wing, wouldn’t I?
“Maybe I am a coach who sees things differently to, say, Stuart Lancaster, who has to win an international and only gets one chance. I get 22 chances in the Premiership, so I can afford to experiment a bit and see what his best position is. I want the best 15 players on the field.”
