Sam Burgess: England World Cup chance would be 'fantastic'

Bath's Sam Burgess says it would be "fantastic" to play for England at a Rugby World Cup.

The 25-year-old, who agreed to switch codes to rugby union in February, left his Australian league club South Sydney Rabbitohs earlier this month.

Having helped England to last year's Rugby League World Cup semi-finals, he could make the 2015 union equivalent.

"I'm not going to hide from the fact that it would be fantastic," Burgess told BBC Sport.

"But I'm not going to kid myself. I know it's going to be hard work.

"First and foremost, the most important thing is to get into Mike Ford's side at Bath and to earn the respect of my team-mates here."

Burgess is unlikely to make his union debut for the Aviva Premiership club until December, as he is recovering from surgery on the cheekbone he fractured in the first minute of Australia's Grand Final on 5 October.

But once fit, he could play in the back row or midfield, and Bath coach Ford said: "We're going to try him in different positions."

Burgess's injury means that he is likely to have only two months to adapt to rugby union before the 2015 Six Nations starts on 6 February - with the World Cup, to be held in England, starting in September.

Former cross-code international Jonathan Davies, who made a high-profile switch from union to league in 1989, has warned that adjusting to the change is difficult.

Davies, who played for Wales at both codes and for the Great Britain rugby league side, told BBC Radio 5 live: "The laws are so different. A player's instincts are totally different for both games.

"It will take him a bit of time to adjust. The injury he had will be a blessing in disguise, because he can go there without the pressure of having to go in straight away.

"He has all the credentials to succeed. He's a great athlete. He can play as a forward or in the backs. He's got a great attitude, and he wants to make a success of it."