PS: Leeds showing interest in the national press is a big PR plus for SL showing we have the resources to compete in the transfer market at the highest level and not be the poor relations. Well done Garry

Exactly this, it's not like they've only thrown their hat into the ring today. It's probably already a done deal with Souths, pending Burgess' decision.

"Mike Ford says Leeds Rhinos HAVEN'T made contact about Sam Burgess - more "speculation""

Yeah because we just say we have for the Laugh.

It would be different. Stuck in RU with the possibility of another 2 and half years there and probably no Internationals to boot. Yes Souths would be his preferred choice but a year at Leeds KNOWING he'll be back at Souths for 2017 I think he'll be ok with. Let's not forget he's from this part of England too so he'll have many other family and friends here unlike at Bath. Also gets him back playing RL in time to get back into the England squad for a 4 Nations and then the World Cup. Also I'm sure he wouldn't mind one stab at a Wembley and Old Trafford final and English silver wear to add to his Aussie collection. He'd also be appreciated back in RL instead of the criticism he faced in RU.

Mike Ford was saying a few days ago that it was nailed on that Burgess would return to Bath and was happy there and looking at getting into the 6 Nations squad.

He might be best to not speak, the end result has the potential to make him and what he's been saying the last week or two about it look very silly.

Well Ford knows now even if only through the national press. GH made it clear that Sam knows of Leeds's interest too!

I hope we get him,if only for a year. We would have a beast of a pack and a good bench/ fight for places which can only be even better. Just having him back in RL would be a massive boost.

I thought the very same!

I think Ford finds himself being backed into a corner as Bath have had a poor start to the season and he will not want an unsettled player in the squad and will need to recruit a replacement quickly so he will have to be sensible about the transfer fee. I guess the Bath chairman is holding out for his money back which will include all the under the table part of the deal.

I'm sure a Combination of Leeds and Souths would be able to complete a deal if they are open to it.

GH says he would bid if Burgess was available, that reads to me like GH has found that he is not available.
Ruins his negotiating position to say we want him, doesn't really fit with our normal transfer strategy. Just another case of trying to look like we are in for the big names when we aren't. Has Gary booked his annual "recruitment" trip down under?

If that's the case, then GH has made himself look a right t*t. Can't see why he would do that. We're in for SB I reckon

The name Leeds Rhinos is currently all over the News and the Internet. I think we have approached and this is putting us on the International Map.

Either way, excellent Media Coverage and Exposure.

But I don't think Gawwy would come out and say it if it wasn't in the balance.

Being 'in' for him is very subjective though. If he is available for the right price, at the right wage and he is interested then yes, I'm sure we are in for him. Though every club with ambition will be too.

The test of how much we really want him is if one or more of those points isn't lined up. All Gary has done so far is up the ante a little to see what happens. We have nothing to lose at the moment and maybe, just maybe, a very talented player on a short term contract to gain.

Headlines coming out "Mike Ford insists Burgess will see out his Bath Contract".

But the real question is, has Sam Burgess said that?

If Bath seek to keep him there against his wishes for the remainder of his contract I can't see that going well for them. Would make more sense to try cut their losses with some cash back in a transfer fee and play the " RL players can't handle union" card to save face.

LOL at Mike Ford.

I feel a little sorry for Bath in all of this. They are looking down the barrel of losing a promising player. Not through any fault of their own, but because the England set up and the RU Media / Hangers on have treated SB very poorly and played him out of the position his club had chosen as his.

ANOTHER case? How many cases have they been?

I would also like to know

Surely if Burgess was staying at Bath he'd personally confirm it. Indeed if that is his intention he needs to do just that otherwise his silence speaks volumes

Too much pointing to the latter. Players Dads, Players, Media....Lots of Smoke, where's the Fire?

Let's be frank, Burgess went to RU for the world cup. Club rugby plays a distant 2nd fiddle to international RU. His England career is in tatters, he might as well come back home

Exactly, if he comes back now he'll get to play in a Four Nations event then a Rugby League World Cup the following year. Granted our World Cup isn't as big.....but at least he's pretty much nailed on to be a part of it, instead of slim hope he'll make it back into the international fold in RU.

He'll finish the season at Bath. After that he may or may not return to Souths but I think that is going to depend very much on what fee Bath want and what changes take place at the England RFU. For example Eddie Jones has been linked with an England coaching position and he has publicly criticised the way Burgess has been handled and attacked those throwing blame at him.