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Sam Burgess forced to retire through injury

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 20:  Sam Burgess of the Rabbitohs walks onto the field during the NRL Semi Final match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Manly Sea Eagles at ANZ Stadium on September 20, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Sam Burgess at the Rabbitohs (Credit: Getty Images)

Former England captain Sam Burgess has been forced to retire from all rugby league through injury.

The 30-year-old, widely considered one of the game’s best players, has been suffering from a shoulder injury and has been unable to recover sufficiently to continue his career.

The former Bradford Bull moved to Australia and the NRL to join the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2010, where he became one of the league’s biggest stars and managed to play with all three of his brothers Luke, Sam and George.

He also briefly switch codes to union when he signed for Bath in 2015, featuring in the Rugby World Cup that year, but returned to Sydney and rugby league after the competition finished.

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Burgess announced: “This decision was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make in my life, however the decision was out of my hands essentially. I am no longer able to be myself day in, day out on the training field and consequently the playing field.

“I have loved absolutely every minute; the highs, the lows; the Grand Final; coming home; my injuries; my dates with the judiciary. It really has been a fantastic ride.”

CARDIFF, WALES - OCTOBER 26:  Sam Burgess (L) George Burgess (C) and Tom Burgess (R) of England sing the national anthem during the Rugby League World Cup Group A match between Australia and England at the Millennium Stadium on October 26, 2013 in Cardiff, Wales.  (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Sam Burgess (L), George (C) and Tom Burgess (R) for England (Credit: Getty Images)

Wayne Bennett, Burgess’ coach with England and the Rabbitohs (as well as the Great Britain Lions), highlighted the player as a major factor in him choosing to work with the Rabbitohs. He said: "He was one of the drawcards for me in coming to coach at South Sydney.

"His leadership and capabilities on the field match the man he is off it. I thought it was a real blow to the game when he left to play rugby union but I'm glad he saw the light and came back.

"I'm glad to have played a small role in his career and I feel blessed that he has been part of mine. I know he has made the right decision."

Away from his success in rugby league, much was made of Burgess’ short time in union. He was fast-tracked into the international set-up by then head coach Stuart Lancaster, and came under criticism as England crashed out at the pool stages of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

He later admitted his “heart wasn’t in” rugby union and was welcomed back to Sydney with open arms. In 2014, in his last game of his first spell at the Rabbitohs, we won the NRL title, and was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for best player in the grand final, despite breaking his cheek in the game’s first play.`

Rugby Union - England v Wales - IRB Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool A - Twickenham Stadium, London, England - 26/9/15  Sam Burgess of England   Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Couldridge  Livepic
Burgess at the 2015 Rugby World Cup (Credit: Getty Images)

Great Britain captain and England team-mate James Graham, who was the opponent who tackled him when he broke his cheek, said today: "From a personal point of view, as a team-mate and a friend, I'm disappointed for him and the circumstances. It's a consequence of the way he goes about his business and plays the game.

"For Great Britain and England he's a huge loss, and for our competition in the NRL. The game's going to be poorer for him not being there. He's one of our competition's biggest stars. He's one of Great Britain and England's greatest."

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