I don't think that's the case. Darren Smith played for Aus when they ran out of bodies. I'd be surprised if NZ were that bothered TBH.

Leeds name is being mentioned less and less as more reports are coming in. I still have a little hope though, but a Sydney return looks likely.

If Sam switches (and he may not) wouldn't immediate selection for England just be the mistake RU made? It may well disrupt the camp, he will not me match fit, etc (and surely even we gave better centres;-) !!!). Having said that just the sort of stunt the RFL would pull yo boost ticket sales if needs be.

Seems to me that Sam's RU signing / promotion to England was all about using him as a political football. This seems to have been borne out by just how much RL and especially the NRL were mentioned during the RUWC. It us about trying to get RL / NRL fans and players watching RU and undermining the NRL gradually to complete their jigsaw. The fact that I'M seeing no published press reports from Oz other than quoting BBC and only Channel 9's story makes me concerned it's just about getting more political mileage from Sam and he may therefore be staying in RU? Against that there is the no smoke without fire angle and pure logic - why wouldn't he want to play a game he's built for and very good at alongside his brothers?

Mike Ford's just told the BBC that Burgess will stay at Bath, out of all the union people he at least seems to want Sam there and knows that he is a forward and not a centre. Either that or it's all just a ruse to get a bigger transfer fee of course.

It will be a shame if he doesn't come back to League, however, I reckon they might be giving him the 6 nations carrot for the spring and saying "give us another chance, if the 6 nations doesnt work for you then make a decision then"....

He needs an off season back in Rugby League, as for me, he has lost a lot of muscle

I think its the latter, and i can't see any Rugby League club prepared to pay the money Bath might want to buy out his contract.

he is going to trot out that same old stuff when asked though isn't he?, but until Burgess comes out and confirms it himself then it is still as up in the air as yesterday and he is doing absolutely nothing to quash these rumours himself right now is he? all he has to do is come out and say, look i'm seeing it through and that's that.

Ford said on Radio Leeds just after the world cup that they were talking to Burgess about extending his contract. When you listened to the interview what Ford actually said was that he hadn't spoken to Sam for 2 weeks but they had been talking about it before the WC.