THE SCAR THAT WILL NEVER HEAL

Luther Burrell opens up on his World Cup snub

LUTHER BURRELL still does not know why. Why, in August 2015 after a fine run of form, having starred in back-to-back Six Nations and completed the Denver training camp with england, he was told he would not be needed for the World Cup.

‘I have no idea what happened and why it turned out like it did,’ the big centre told Sportsmail. ‘I left the office in tears, had to go and pack my suitcase. then I’ve got cameras in my face, people following me, a media circus.’

Sam Burgess, recruited from rugby league less than a year earlier, was parachuted into the squad to take Burrell’s place. england bombed on home turf and failed to make the knockout stages of the tournament they were hosting.

For Burrell it was a huge moment. he hired a life coach, focused on his career at Northampton and briefly won his england place back under eddie Jones. Now the Yorkshireman is facing his next challenge, having switched codes to rugby league with Warrington Wolves. But the wounds clearly still sting and there is more to be said.

‘It’s a scar that’s going to stay with me for the rest of my life but I can’t afford to be hung up on it,’ said Burrell, showing the wisdom of his 31 years. ‘I have lots of scars that I have to live with. Adverse times make you the character you are.’

It is also a mark of the man that he took no satisfaction from england’s embarrassment.

‘I couldn’t even bring myself to watch the games,’ he explained. ‘that was the hardest thing. A few of the players reached out and told me it was shocking what happened to me. Sam did. he’s a top fella.’

Burrell bears no grudges with Burgess. Indeed, the opposite is true. ‘A few weeks ago

he put a tweet out saying that he will tell his story about the World Cup at some point. I messaged him: “Mate, I’ll back you up and sit in with you on that”.’

Four months after the selection debacle, Burrell sat down with the subsequently axed england coach Stuart lancaster, a man he counted as a lifelong friend and who took him to leeds as a 17-year- old (following an email from his mum asking for a trial).

‘he told me if he could go back he would have done things differently,’ said Burrell.

Does he have his own theory about what happened? ‘It should never have been just about Sam and me,’ he said. ‘It was deeper than that. there were a number of players who should not have been there.’

You get the impression that the life coach, tim Martin, had to earn his money. ‘ I’m a big believer in investing in yourself,’ said Burrell. ‘I approached Tim after the World Cup and have worked with him ever since. ‘he oversees a lot of my decisions. he sends me recordings to listen to in the car. It’s not for everyone but it works for me, gives me the mental tools to deal with certain situations.’ When asked what is the biggest thing he has learned about himself, Burrell’s answer is telling. ‘ transparency,’ he said. ‘Being transparent and seeking it from others, from my coach. If I’m not playing I want to know why.’ Burrell is from a working class family and went to a comprehensive school in huddersfield, the birthplace of the 13-man code. he says he has made the move because he always had an itch he wanted to scratch. But he believes he might be the first of a new generation of converts to rugby league, starting with Danny Cipriani, another who could have gripes over his treatment by the RFU. Burrell, whose partner is expecting their second child next month, grew up playing both codes and is quickly settling into his new surroundings. ‘Apart from the weather it’s been great,’ he said. ‘I had my first session on Wednesday which was good fun. the lads have been giving me a lot of stick, asking me if I could lend them a fiver, that kind of thing. ‘ I got stick down there for my accent and I’m getting stick up here. ‘I had to speak about myself for a minute in front of the lads the other day. Speaking about yourself for a minute is hard! I said, “hi, I’m luther, I’ve been stealing a living in union for the past few years”.’

Burrell is joining a club known as the eternal bridesmaids. Warrington are a rugby league powerhouse in all but trophy haul. they are yet to win the Super league, despite appearing in four of the last seven Grand Finals. the challenge of getting them over the line — something Burrell has displayed a knack for in his career — excites him.

‘At Northampton we lost to leicester in 2013 and won it the next year,’ he said. ‘that failure drives you. I think this could be the year for Warrington. It would be an amazing achievement.’

First, he needs to make his presence felt as soon as his Northampton contract expires.

‘I want to get on the field and play my part,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to do a John terry and lift the trophy having not played one minute!’

Should all go to plan, Burrell is eyeing another landmark, that of dual-code international.

‘I’d be lying if I hadn’t thought about it,’ he admitted. ‘I need to be an asset to this club and play well and then, who knows?

‘how good would it be? I’ve beaten Australia in union so I’ve got something! It would be a dream come true. Amazing.

‘But I have to concentrate on everything else first.’

the rugby league World Cup is in england in 2021. Burrell could finally get to wear that white shirt in a World Cup on home soil. he might even do so in the same team as Burgess, who returned to league after a year.

‘that’d be good,’ said Burrell. ‘We could chew the fat, have a laugh about what happened in 2015.’