Sam Burgess
Lock
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2024
- Date of Birth:
- 14 December 1988
- Birthplace:
- Dewsbury, UK
- Nickname:
- -
- Debut Team:
- South Sydney Rabbitohs
- Date:
- 14 March 2010
- Opposition:
- -
- Venue:
- ANZ Stadium
- Representative:
- England, Great Britain
- Club:
- South Sydney Rabbitohs
Career
Milestones
- NRL games: 182
- Points: 176 (44 tries)
- England: Tests 24 (2008-13, 2016-18), Four Nations 2009, 2010, 2016; World Cup 2013, 2017
- Great Britain: Tests 2 (2007)
- Grand Finals: 1 – Souths 2014 (W)
- South Sydney Jack Rayner Players’ Player award 2018
- Played five Rugby Union Tests for England 2015
- Rugby World Cup 2015
- Clive Churchill Medal winner 2014
- RLIF Player of the Year 2014
- Dally M Lock of the Year 2014
- George Piggins Medal winner 2014, 2016, 2017
- RLIF Prop of the Year 2013
- NRL All Stars 2010
- Made 80 Super League appearances for Bradford (2006-09)
- Scored two tries in England’s loss to Australia in 2009 Four Nations final
Biography
The powerful Englishman’s legacy was cemented in the 2014 grand final when he defied the pain of a fractured cheekbone to lead the Rabbitohs to a drought-breaking premiership. Burgess suffered the injury in a head clash with Canterbury’s James Graham in the opening minute but bravely stayed on the field and went on to collect the Clive Churchill Medal as Souths won their first title since 1971.
Burgess becomes first English international to be inducted into NRL Hall of Fame
Arriving at Redfern from Bradford in 2010, Burgess went on to play 182 games for the Rabbitohs, collecting the Dally M Lock of the Year award in 2014 and playing alongside brothers George, Tom and Luke for the famous cardinal and myrtle.
The no-nonsense forward played 24 Tests for England, including the 2009 Four Nations final and 2017 World Cup final both against Australia, as well as two Tests for Great Britain. Regarded as the toughest forward in the NRL at his best, Burgess put his body through plenty of punishment, eventually succumbing to a shoulder injury that forced him into retirement in 2019 at the age of 30.
Hall of Fame Members
National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
