Sam Burgess slams ‘snake’ Mike Ford

David Skippers

Former England centre Sam Burgess has accused ex-Bath boss Mike Ford of being a ‘snake’ and hampering the country’s chances at the 2015 World Cup.

A star in rugby league, Burgess moved to the West Country outfit from the South Sydney Rabbitohs in an attempt to win a place in the Red Rose squad for rugby union’s global competition.

After initially playing at centre, Ford decided his best position was at blindside flanker and he started there as they reached the Premiership final.

However, England head coach Stuart Lancaster had other ideas and included Burgess as one of his four midfield options, but it ended in disaster as they were ousted from their home tournament at the group stage.

Burgess started the game against Wales at centre, with Mike’s son George dropping to the bench, and they were leading when the centre was replaced by fly-half Ford with 10 minutes remaining.

England went on to lose the match and Burgess claims the relationship changed after that episode.

“I just felt that people behind the scenes were playing a deeper game,” Burgess told the House of Rugby podcast. “With George, Mike kind of infiltrated the camp; that is my take on it.”

“After me starting against Wales, my relationship with George completely changed, he wouldn’t talk to me, he was a bit sulky.

“Knowing what I know now, I see the politics. George came on with 10 minutes to go to keep Mike and George happy. We didn’t need him on, we had the team to finish the game.”

With Bath impressing domestically and an international role potentially up for grabs following the 2015 World Cup, Burgess believes that Ford sought to undermine Lancaster, using the former rugby league star’s selection as a way of criticising the Red Rose boss.

“Mike Ford wanted the England coaching job,” he added. “I had to tell him I couldn’t play for him any more. I’d lost respect for him.

“I went back to Bath and I couldn’t sit in the same room as Mike. It was pretty hot to be honest.

“I went straight into his office and said: ‘Mike I don’t trust you, I think you have been playing games behind my back, you have used me as a bit of a pawn in your game of chess, I can’t put my boots on and play for you every week’.

“I will never forget his face when I said: ‘I can’t respect you, I think you are a bit of a snake.’ I remember the quiver that I got from him.”

Bath Sam Burgess