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Sam Burgess
Burgess playing for Bradford in 2008
Personal information
Nickname	Sambi, SamB, Moonhead, Thumper[1]
Born	14 December 1988 (1988-12-14) (age 21)
	Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Height	195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight	110 kg (17 st 5 lb)
Playing information
Position	Prop, Lock, Second-row
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2006–09	Bradford Bulls	80	14	5	0	66
2010	South Sydney	0	0	0	0	0
	Total	80	14	5	0	66
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2008–09	England	2	1	0	0	4
2007	Great Britain	2	1	0	0	4
As of September 27th, 2009
Source: Rugby League Project

Sam Burgess (born 14 December 1988) is an English professional rugby league footballer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League (NRL). A Great Britain representative prop forward, he previously played for the Bradford Bulls. Burgess can also play second row forward and is an occasional goal kicker. He also used play for Liversedge Cricket Club.

[edit] Bradford Bulls

He made his début against Leeds in 2006. After a highly successful début season with the Bulls, Burgess was awarded the Senior Academy Player of the Year Award by the club. In 2007 Burgess has established himself as a first team regular.

[edit] South Sydney Rabbitohs

In September, 2009, the South Sydney Rabbitohs announced they had signed Burgess on a four year deal from the 2010 season. Burgess, on contract at Bradford until the end of the 2010 season, was released after the clubs agreed on a compensation fee.^[2][3] South Sydney co-owner and A-list celebrity Russell Crowe persuaded Burgess to choose his club over others that were competing for his signature, after inviting Burgess and his mother to the set of Robin Hood, which he was filming in England at the time.^[4]

[edit] Representative

After a great full season he was called up for the Great Britain Train on Squad for the 2007 test series with New Zealand, and was named as young player of the year in Super League. Burgess also played in the centenary match between the All Golds and Northern Union; he was awarded the Man of the match. Burgess made his Great Britain début against New Zealand in the 1st test in October 2007, scoring a try.

He was forced to rule himself out contention for the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup through injury.^[5]

He is notable for his big hit on Tongan prop Fuifui Moimoi during the Kiwi's 2007 Tour of Great Britain and France.^[6]

Burgess, in his last game in the UK before moving to the NRL, played a prominent role in the final of the 2009 Four Nations tournament, scoring two tries in England's loss to Australia.^[7]

[edit] Personal life

Burgess was born on December 14, 1988 in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He attended Heckmondwike Grammar School to receive a secondary education before becoming a rugby player. His late father, Mark Burgess, was also a rugby league footballer who played for Nottingham City, Rochdale Hornets, Dewsbury and Hunslet.^[8] His older brother Luke, and younger twin brothers Tom Burgess(Rugby League) and George, are all professional rugby league footballers.^[9]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Sam Burgess Official Player Profile
• International Statistics at englandrl.co.uk
• Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
• Burgess' off-the-field challenge