Recently, there has been a lot of controversy about Rugby League player Sam Burgess joining England for the RWC2015 in Rugby Union. Burgess is set to start playing Union for Bath in October this year which will give him around 3 months to adapt to the new playing styles of the game which starts on the 6th February 2015. But will he be ready? He stated, “With 2015 being a Rugby World Cup, it was an opportunity I had to pursue,” Burgess said. “I can’t wait to get my head down and start learning the game.” Alongside Tuilagi in the centres you could suggest that they would be impossible to stop but perhaps it is a difficult transition to make in such a short space of time.
Huge names in the past of the rugby industry have switched between League to Union and made a success but can Sam Burgess join this list of players:
Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand) – began his career in league, switched to union to win 2011 World Cup then switched back and became runner-up in 2013 league World Cup.
Jason Robinson (England) – Won league World Club Challenge with Wigan Warriors before switching to be part of England World Cup-winning team of 2003.
Israel Folau (Australia) – Was a league international before switching to Australian rules, he joined union in 2013 and made his Test debut against the British Lion.