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Burgess to return for England
Wednesday 19th May 2010
Former Bradford forward Sam Burgess will play in next month's England international after all.
New England head coach Steve McNamara, the current Bulls boss, will be reunited with his former player for the Gillette Fusion match against France at Leigh on Saturday, June 12, after South Sydney performed a U-turn by agreeing to release him.
McNamara will also have the services of Wests Tigers second rower Gareth Ellis for his first match in charge.
Burgess has been a big success in his first season in the National Rugby League and initially the Rabbitohs insisted the 21-year-old prop or second rower would not be available for the mid-season international because they have a match against Brisbane Broncos that weekend.
But the Sydney club's stance softened following representations made by Rugby League International Federation chairman Colin Love.
According to the regulations, internationals have precedence over club matches, as Leeds and Wigan discovered two years ago when they were forced to release Brent Webb and Thomas Leuluai for the mid-season Anzac Test.
It is thought gentle diplomacy paved the way for Burgess' availability.
Wests Tigers did not have an issue with releasing Ellis because they have a bye that weekend.
Both players are England regulars and McNamara is keen to field his strongest available team for their only home match before the end-of-season Four Nations series in Australia and New Zealand.
"Sam and Gareth are important parts of our plans, both for the Gillette Fusion international and this year's Four Nations and beyond," said McNamara.
http://rugbyleague.com/rugby-league-news/2066
England call for Burgess and Ellis
Wednesday 19th May 2010
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England head coach Steve McNamara has confirmed his plans to call up Sam Burgess and Gareth Ellis for the Gillette Fusion International agianst France at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday June 12.
The RFL say both players will join the England squad immediately after fulfilling their commitments to their Australian clubs the week before the mid-season international.
Burgess' South Sydney club had previously said they would not release the player depsite calls to do so from the Rugby League International Federation. Today's announcement would seem to put the England set-up and the RFL on a collision course with the NRL club.
"Sam and Gareth are important parts of our plans, both for the Gillette Fusion International and this year's Four Nations and beyond," said McNamara.
"We are about to embark on an exciting journey culminating in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and the match against France is a significant juncture in our development.
"Both Sam and Gareth were instrumental in the progress we made during last year's Gillette Four Nations and have key roles to play in building on that momentum.
"We have kept close tabs on their progress in the NRL and are delighted by their form in 2010\. I'm looking forward to working with them both again next month."
Ellis is likely to feature in the Wests Tigers team that plays Canterbury Bulldogs in Sydney on Friday June 4\. Burgess is expected to be in action with South Sydney on Monday June 7.
The RFL say both players will miss their clubs' respective NRL fixtures the following weekend.
Steve McNamara is set to announce full details of his 19-man squad for the Gillette Fusion International at a press conference in Manchester on Tuesday June 1.
http://rugbyleague.com/rugby-league-news/england-call-for-burgess-and.html
Wednesday 19th May 2010
Former Bradford forward Sam Burgess will play in next month's England international after all.
New England head coach Steve McNamara, the current Bulls boss, will be reunited with his former player for the Gillette Fusion match against France at Leigh on Saturday, June 12, after South Sydney performed a U-turn by agreeing to release him.
McNamara will also have the services of Wests Tigers second rower Gareth Ellis for his first match in charge.
Burgess has been a big success in his first season in the National Rugby League and initially the Rabbitohs insisted the 21-year-old prop or second rower would not be available for the mid-season international because they have a match against Brisbane Broncos that weekend.
But the Sydney club's stance softened following representations made by Rugby League International Federation chairman Colin Love.
According to the regulations, internationals have precedence over club matches, as Leeds and Wigan discovered two years ago when they were forced to release Brent Webb and Thomas Leuluai for the mid-season Anzac Test.
It is thought gentle diplomacy paved the way for Burgess' availability.
Wests Tigers did not have an issue with releasing Ellis because they have a bye that weekend.
Both players are England regulars and McNamara is keen to field his strongest available team for their only home match before the end-of-season Four Nations series in Australia and New Zealand.
"Sam and Gareth are important parts of our plans, both for the Gillette Fusion international and this year's Four Nations and beyond," said McNamara.
http://rugbyleague.com/rugby-league-news/2066
England call for Burgess and Ellis
Wednesday 19th May 2010
\
\
England head coach Steve McNamara has confirmed his plans to call up Sam Burgess and Gareth Ellis for the Gillette Fusion International agianst France at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday June 12.
The RFL say both players will join the England squad immediately after fulfilling their commitments to their Australian clubs the week before the mid-season international.
Burgess' South Sydney club had previously said they would not release the player depsite calls to do so from the Rugby League International Federation. Today's announcement would seem to put the England set-up and the RFL on a collision course with the NRL club.
"Sam and Gareth are important parts of our plans, both for the Gillette Fusion International and this year's Four Nations and beyond," said McNamara.
"We are about to embark on an exciting journey culminating in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and the match against France is a significant juncture in our development.
"Both Sam and Gareth were instrumental in the progress we made during last year's Gillette Four Nations and have key roles to play in building on that momentum.
"We have kept close tabs on their progress in the NRL and are delighted by their form in 2010\. I'm looking forward to working with them both again next month."
Ellis is likely to feature in the Wests Tigers team that plays Canterbury Bulldogs in Sydney on Friday June 4\. Burgess is expected to be in action with South Sydney on Monday June 7.
The RFL say both players will miss their clubs' respective NRL fixtures the following weekend.
Steve McNamara is set to announce full details of his 19-man squad for the Gillette Fusion International at a press conference in Manchester on Tuesday June 1.
http://rugbyleague.com/rugby-league-news/england-call-for-burgess-and.html
