Injury forces Burgess to call time
SAM Burgess has called time on one of the great careers of modern rugby league.
The England and Great Britain international has announced his retirement at the age of 30 after failing to recover from a chronic shoulder injury that forced him to miss the current Lions tour of New Zealand.
Burgess had a history of shoulder trouble going back to his Bradford days, but South Sydney said the condition only became apparent earlier this year following routine surgery.
In a heartfelt letter to fans, Burgess said: “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.
“My time has come to an end. I’m excited for my next chapter in life whatever that may be.” Burgess, who burst on to the scene as a teenager with Great Britain in 2007, was lured to the Rabbitohs by club owner and Hollywood actor Russell Crowe in 2010, arriving in Sydney on his 21st birthday, and immediately became a big hit.
He went on to make 182 appearances for Souths, was named International Player of the Year in 2014 and won his club’s players’ player of the year award five times.
Burgess, who played rugby union for his country at the 2015 World Cup during a brief spell with Bath, won 24 caps for England’s league side in addition to making two appearances for Britain.