Sam Burgess has already publicly stated last Saturday, in a TV interview with Darren Lockyer at half time in the England vs Samoa game, that he is likely to return to rugby league in 2017.

I started a thread about this but a moderator from Wakefield locked the thread. He stated that I should use an existing thread on Sam Burgess. I re-posted the news on that existing thread, but it was removed, presumably by a wise moderator.

Quite a few people have mentioned 2017 and i would be surprised if he remained in Union for more than 3 years.TBH i still reckon he is thinking of playing a part in this coming WC and is one of his major reasons for moving over.If he is overlooked,which is likely considering his injury and lack of time to get to grips with the game,tuen i think we will see him back pretty soon.

SBW played a handful of matches at RWC 2011, but only 5 minutes combined in the semi-final and Final. Union is such that you can afford to bring a few "box office" players to the tournament and use them in "pool games" as SBW was. He played 80 v Tonga, Japan and France in the pool games and against Argentina in the Quarters, but the business end of the comp saw the AB's play their strongest 15.

If he makes the 6 Nations squad he'll get game time in all matches.....at RWC15 England will make room for him and roll him out v Uruguay and Fiji, with maybe a bench spot v Wales. If they win the group he'll get time v Scotland or Samoa, if they come second, he'll be lucky to get another game all comp.
After that?

I agree.and i get the feeling he has pretty much been offered this as part of the deal for switching.lets not forget englands backroom team includes ex RL players Farrell and Ford aswell as the actual coach Lancaster being a self confessed admirer of TGG.Your summary will probably prove to be correct.

First time for everything I suppose

Actually, we are both right.


I have searched the term "4 Billion" on the IRB RWC 2015 site and it would seem that since they first used it in 2007, the IRB have continued with the figure, in differing contexts, to claim the audience for their comp.
Anyone with a brain cell knows that this is a potential audience figure and doesn't in any way demonstrate an actual viewing figure. But then again, let's all laugh at FIFA!
[urlhttp://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=6/news=fifa-world-cuptm-group-stages-break-new-ground-in-tv-viewing-2388418.html[/url

Quote ="gutterfax"The "4 Billion watching" rubbish was well before 2011 RWC....either 2007 or even 2003. The IRB were quite pointed in their "non-reporting" of TV audiences after that other than a claim that 18,000,000 French watched the 2011 final. You'll see from this report before the 2011 event that the 4 billion had become "cumulative".....although I am sure that Even MasterCard who commissioned it took the figure with a pinch of salt. [urlhttp://www.rugbyworldcup.com/mm/Document/Tournament/Mediazone/02/05/05/75/RWC-ec-report.pdf[/url On further inspection, it looks like it was after the 2007 event that the 4 Billion figure was used......and even the one eyed NZ Press saw through it [urlhttp://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10761073[/url It never ceases to amaze me that some of the more insecure amongst us cling to this PR gaffe like a smoking gun The reality is that the RWC 2015 Organisers have shifted 1,000,000 tickets 12 months out from the event......unless you have proof that they haven't that is? Burgess, if selected for the 6 Nations will also, using the BBC's claimed average audience for the tournament, be seen by 22,500,000 sets of eyeballs on FTA TV over 7 weeks and 5 games.'" www.espn.co.uk/2011-rugby-world- ... 63342.html

Quote ="gutterfax"The "4 Billion watching" rubbish was well before 2011 RWC....either 2007 or even 2003. The IRB were quite pointed in their "non-reporting" of TV audiences after that other than a claim that 18,000,000 French watched the 2011 final. You'll see from this report before the 2011 event that the 4 billion had become "cumulative".....although I am sure that Even MasterCard who commissioned it took the figure with a pinch of salt. [urlhttp://www.rugbyworldcup.com/mm/Document/Tournament/Mediazone/02/05/05/75/RWC-ec-report.pdf[/url On further inspection, it looks like it was after the 2007 event that the 4 Billion figure was used......and even the one eyed NZ Press saw through it [urlhttp://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10761073[/url It never ceases to amaze me that some of the more insecure amongst us cling to this PR gaffe like a smoking gun The reality is that the RWC 2015 Organisers have shifted 1,000,000 tickets 12 months out from the event......unless you have proof that they haven't that is? Burgess, if selected for the 6 Nations will also, using the BBC's claimed average audience for the tournament, be seen by 22,500,000 sets of eyeballs on FTA TV over 7 weeks and 5 games.'" www.espn.co.uk/2011-rugby-world- ... 63342.html

So the fact that they continue to peddle the lie means it certainly isn't a "PR gaffe" doesn't it?

I doubt they're getting £85M hosting rights
I doubt they've already shifted 1M tickets

As I said earlier they have form for lying about their successes

Quote ="The Avenger"So the fact that they continue to peddle the lie means it certainly isn't a "PR gaffe" doesn't it? I doubt they're getting £85M hosting rights I doubt they've already shifted 1M tickets As I said earlier they have form for lying about their successes'" you doubt? so we take your doubt over widely reported figures? news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8170488.stm As for the number of tickets sold. 300,000 for englands pool games alone and 600,000 for the knock out games......before wales 2 games at home.and not a double header in sight

Quote ="The Avenger"So the fact that they continue to peddle the lie means it certainly isn't a "PR gaffe" doesn't it? I doubt they're getting £85M hosting rights I doubt they've already shifted 1M tickets As I said earlier they have form for lying about their successes'" you doubt? so we take your doubt over widely reported figures? news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8170488.stm As for the number of tickets sold. 300,000 for englands pool games alone and 600,000 for the knock out games......before wales 2 games at home.and not a double header in sight

I'm sure you have more to contribute to the forum than by incessantly massaging your ego by peddling an argument you think you can never lose.

We all [iknow[/i that RU fills stadiums for it's main internationals.

Just drop it.

We all also know that RU would fill Twickers if it selected 15 monkeys to play.

What's different about RL is that crowds go up in relation to the anticipated excitement to be generated at the event, based on the [iquality of what is on the pitch[/i.

Very different.

From the same people that peddled the 3.9 Billion lie, you betcha

He should also take up professional boxing.

Although I can't see him fighting for a British title after only 4 contests.

I haven't sat through 80 minutes of snore ball for a number of years but I fail to see how a powerful, ball handling, all-action monster RL forward can make it in RU. I just can't see him shining in a game that doesn't reward any of his qualities. It's not like he can play centre or wing, and if he's in the forwards he just won't be expected to do any of the things he's good at. What's the point?

He'll play inside centre. It's a straight running and holding ball up kind of role. If they play off him he will be great.
If he'd started at school he'd have been a no.8 or blindside flanker, but not now.

We can argue about the intricacies of the game until the cows come home.

What I want to know (and I'm sure Stuart lancaster and everyone else at the RFU are no exception) is how quickly can he down a can of carling through a sock and will he wear his pastelle coloured sweater over his shoulders with a knot over his chest and a pair of chinos twinned with loafers without socks in the summer?

I should think he has started that part of his training already?!?!?

I'm going to the Bath v Gloucester game in December. If he is playing I'll give you a full review.

Please don't.

Straight running and holding the ball up, sounds thrilling and ideal for a player like Sam who's good at smashing people about for 80 minutes and throwing the ball about. What a waste.

The full review won't take long. Made 4 tackles, 2 runs and passed the ball 3 times.

and spoke nicely to the BBC, and had a nice sherry afterwards.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is a massive waste of talent, and am disappointed in him and the RL for going, and letting him go respectively.
I can't imagine the opposition attempts to stop him. He should blast straight through the backs so they'll have to start lining up forwards to stop him.

If he does end up playing for England RU, Burgess alongside Manu Tuilagi in the would be devastating for them.

The Press are now in full flow: www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... de-of.html

The Press are now in full flow: www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... de-of.html

When did Kevin Sinfield get knighted?

Quote ="Dally"The Press are now in full flow: www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... de-of.html'" Excellent article.

Quote ="Dally"The Press are now in full flow: www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... de-of.html'" Excellent article.

Is that the stats for both teams?