Sam Burgess: Bath to play new-signing at centre after code change

Former Bradford Bulls man Sam Burgess cost Premiership side Bath £270,000 (500,000 Australian dollars)

Incoming Bath signing Sam Burgess will play at centre after he completes his switch to rugby union from league.

The 25-year-old forward's code-crossing move was announced in February and Bath head coach Mike Ford told BBC Radio 5 live that he will arrive on 15 October.

"We'll start him in the centres, so he can see the game live," Ford said.

"We need to get him into the nitty-gritty of the game. We don't want to change who he is. We've got to figure out how the game-plan fits Sam."

Burgess plays as a prop for current side South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Australian NRL.

"I went to see Sam in June and I'm on the phone to him every day," Ford continued. "South Sydney are doing really well this year.

"He'll be over on 15 October, so its all planned. There are a couple of fixtures in November and there's definitely a plan of where to play him and when to fit him in.

"We're going to have to look after him, see where his body is. I don't want him to be burnt out, come March and April.

"Hopefully, when he comes, there's a platform for him to perform well."