RFU faces fast-tracking row over Sam Burgess" planned switch from rugby ...

Negotiations were on Thursday night said to be at a “delicate stage”, with a

decision not expected until early next week and it is still possible the

deal could fall through.

The RFU has not ruled out making a financial contribution as it did previously

when players such as Andy Farrell and Jason Robinson switched codes.

However, any decision will almost certainly have to be approved by the

Premiership Rugby board.

Club sources on Thursday night indicated it could lead to a split vote, with

some clubs ready to voice concern that Bath would be given an unfair

advantage if the governing body assisted in Burgess’s move.

One RFU source also suggested on Thursday night that a move to contribute to

the deal would be “unlikely” given the message it would send to the other

professional clubs in the Premiership and Championship as well as the

grassroots game.

There is also a sense of frustration at some Premiership clubs that they had

not been made aware that Burgess was keen on a move to England, despite

making his interest clear to the England management.

Burgess’s representatives contacted a number of Premiership clubs after it

made been made clear to him that the RFU would not be able to offer him a

central contract following his declaration of a strong interest to switch

codes during the autumn. Bath quickly became his preferred destination.

Lancaster first met Burgess during his fact-finding mission to Australia last

August but it is understood that it was during the rugby league World Cup

last November that Burgess is thought to have made firm his decision to

switch to rugby union.

The profile of England’s rugby union Test matches in the QBE International

Series, in comparison to the rugby league World Cup, is understood to have

been one of the influencing factors in his decision, added to a desire to

move back to England after six years in Sydney.

Lancaster on Thursday said that there could be no guarantees that Burgess, who

is likely to play at inside centre in rugby union, would be fast-tracked

into his squad if the move went ahead.

“People have to earn the right,” said Lancaster. “Let’s talk about Kyle

Eastmond [the former rugby league player at Bath]. He was going to have to

play well in the Premiership in order to get into the England team. That is

only right and fair. That is the way it should be done.”

Asked if Burgess was good enough to force his way into the England starting XV

in time for the start of the World Cup next year, Lancaster added: “I don’t

know enough about him in that regard. We are talking about a conversation

but there would have to be a whole host of things that would have to happen.

Even if it came to fruition he would have to learn the game and play the

game in the space of six months.

“It would be a challenge, big time, because of the nature of learning the

sport and everything else that goes with it. There’s a bigger picture about

developing a team that goes way beyond 2015 as well.”

It appears Burgess left a lasting impression on Lancaster during their meeting

in August. “I was impressed with him. I was impressed with his character and

his leadership,” Lancaster added.

“He is a grounded, down to earth northerner as well, which helps. It was a

brief meeting, conversation alongside meeting other players. Clearly he is a

world-class rugby league player. Any player if they wanted to make a

transition it is going to be difficult in a short space of time.”

Burgess is contracted with the Rabbitohs until 2016 but his commercial

manager, James Erskine, said on Thursday that he did not expect the club,

owned by film star Russell Crowe, would stand in a way of his move to

England.

“If Sam is desperate to do it, I don’t think Russell would stand in his way,”

Erskine said. ”Having said that, Sam has committed to a contract with

Souths, and Sam is the kind of guy who doesn’t walk away from a contract and

responsibilities, so there would have to be a mutual agreement to change

that.”

Article source: http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/story/211325.html

RFU faces fast-tracking row over Sam Burgess" planned switch from rugby ...