Sam Burgess Stiff Competition for RWC England Squad- By Matt

SAM Burgess is in a race against time to prove to England coach Stuart Lancaster he is the man to start at inside centre at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He may have starred in the 2014 NRL Grand Final, but a fractured eye socket and cheek bone suffered by the former South Sydney hard-man in that match has put his rugby stint at Bath on hold.

Burgess also faces heavy competition for the starting role, with as many as five contenders vying to wear England’s number 12 jersey in their World Cup opener against Fiji at Twickenham. With an inform English side that defeated Australia and South Africa in last years spring tour, Burgess will struggle to make the team and the transition from league to union will not make his prospects any easier. England faces what is known as the group of death at the world cup next year with Australia and Wales drawn in their pool.

Reference: http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/sam-burgess-facing-fitness-race-stiff-competition-for-place-in-englands-rugby-world-cup-squad/story-e6frf4pu-1227091106567?sv=65b39cae8edbce4af854086561877556#itm_s=foxs&itm_t=home&itm_c=content-3&itm_o=56&itm_l=Fox%20Feed%20-%20Burgess’ main RWC competition