Burgess leaving for ‘personal reasons’ – Bath

Editor

Bath have confirmed that Sam Burgess has left the Premiership club with immediate effect, claiming “personal reasons” are behind the move.

Burgess will return to South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Australian rugby league club from whom he joined Bath in October 2014.

“The club has remained committed to Burgess’s ongoing development as a rugby union player since his move to the West Country, but now recognises that, for personal reasons, he no longer sees his future in the 15-man game,” read a Bath press release.

“Having settled on agreeable terms within the last 24 hours, Bath Rugby are therefore releasing Burgess with immediate effect.”

Bath Rugby Head Coach Mike Ford said: “We hoped that Sam would stay at Bath. 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.

“However, we’re fortunate that we’ve got some very high calibre players here at the Club, and with a big run of games coming up in the Aviva Premiership and the European Rugby Champions Cup, we’ll be fully focused on these.”

In statement released by the Rabbitohs earlier on Friday, Burgess said he was missing his family in Australia.

“I must also thank Bath especially for granting my release to return home to my family who I have missed more than I could have imagined.” said the England centre.