Shoulder problem forces Burgess to retire

THE man who divided opinion during the last World Cup in England, Sam Burgess, has announced his immediate retirement from the sport.

The 30-year-old Rugby League forward has been forced to call it quits due to a chronic left shoulder injury.

The South Sydney Rabbitohsstar, who previously played for Bradford Bullsand Bath, said in a statement: “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.”

In 2014 Burgess was given the Rugby League International Federation's International Player of the Year, and won South Sydney's players' player five times and its best and fairest on three occassions.

He also played 24 Tests for his country and had two appearances for Great Britain.

One of the world's premier rugby league players, Burgess had a brief sojourn from the sport when he switched to Union for the 2014-15 season and was fast-tracked into the England team, earning five caps, but returned to rugby league after just a year.

In his retirement statement he added: “I'd like to encourage everyone to smile as they read this.

“Let's all remember what we have done together as a club over the past decade rather than what's not to be in the coming years.” Former Great Britain coach Tony Smith believes Burgess was “made a scapegoat” by rugby union.

“I think it was a pretty dark time psychologically for him,” said Smith.

Hull Kingston Rovers head coach Smith, who gave Burgess his Great Britain debut, told Radio 5 Live: “I think he was made a scapegoat by a sport that used him and chewed him up to some degree. Sam was hung out to dry.

“I thought he held a great account of himself in rugby union, to play at the highest level and do such a good job as he did – not many people could achieve that.

“And I know there would not be many that could come the other way and do it.”