Burgess targets World Cup place after Bath confirm cross-code switch

Sam Burgess is being hotly tipped to make England’s 2015 World Cup squad following confirmation of his cross-code move to rugby union side Bath.

The South Sydney Rabittohs star will move to the Rec in October on a three-year contract once his NRL commitments have finished and Ladbrokes have priced the 25-year-old at 1/2 to book a place in England’s squad for the World Cup next year.

Burgess was one of the stars of the tournament as England reached the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup last October and the bookmaker has given him an early price of 12/1 to be England’s top tryscorer.

And with many pundits backing the Yorkshireman for super stardom he can be backed at 50/1 to be the top tryscorer in the tournament with the bookmaker.

Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: “Burgess is the best forward in rugby league at the moment, and with time on his side we’re confident his switch will be a successful one.

And the former Bradford forward is chalked up at 4/1 to be Bath’s top tryscorer in next season’s Aviva Premiership.

Burgess is set to play at centre in the 15-man code and England, who are 7/1 to win the World Cup, will look to fast-track him into their plans for the tournament which starts in September next year.

He will have nine months to adapt to rugby union and he will have even less time if England want to get him into the side for the 2015 Six Nations.

With the tournament starting on 6^th February next year Burgess would have three months to get up to speed to take on the likes of France, Wales and Ireland.

But if you think the move will turn out to be more in the vein of Henry Paul rather than the glittering union career of Jason Robinson, Ladbrokes have priced Burgess at 6/4 not to make England’s World Cup squad.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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