Burgess confirms retirement

Sam Burgess, 30, has confirmed his immediate retirement from playing Rugby League due to an on-going chronic shoulder injury. 

The former Bradford Bulls forward debuted in the 2006 Super League season against Leeds Rhinos, going on to make over 80 appearances for Bulls before moving to Russell Crowe's South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2010 at the age of 21.

We're going to miss you big guy. 👊????????💚
*Proceeds to put Sam Burgess' 'Hit of the Decade' on loop* 📼📺#GoRabbitohs #OldestProudestLoudest pic.twitter.com/5BWfFGnVAS
— South Sydney Rabbitohs ??? (@SSFCRABBITOHS) October 30, 2019

Burgess went on to make over 180 appearances for the Rabbitohs, including a Man of the Match performance in the 2014 NRL Grand Final leaving Burgess as the only non-Australian winner of the Clive Churchill Medal.

On his retirement, Burgess told South Sydney Rabbitohs members: "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."

Alongside his club honours, Burgess represented England 24 times, including as Captain in the 2017 RLWC Final. Two Test appearances for Great Britain helped Burgess make his name, including when at the age of 18 he went toe-to-toe with the then fearsome FuiFui MoiMoi. 

??? One of THE great Sam Burgess moments... right back at the start, aged just 18 in a Great Britain shirt.

📜 "Sam Burgess stuns Fuifui Moimoi with huge hit."#ThankYouSam pic.twitter.com/StxPbqMsdH
— Rugby Football League 🇬🇧?? (@TheRFL) October 30, 2019