England's Tom Burgess trains with Buffalo Bills and New York Giants
Friday 4 December 2015 15:15, UK
England rugby league forward Tom Burgess has worked out with two NFL teams, but his Australian rugby league club insist he won't be switching sports.
Burgess, 23, a brother and club-mate at South Sydney Rabbitohs of code-switching star Sam, trained with the Buffalo Bills on Friday a day after working out with the New York Giants.
His NRL club have stated the player's intentions are nurturing his ball skills during the off-season and played down any prospect of a move to the United States to play a new sport.
His move follows efforts by Australia rugby league international Jarryd Hayne to break into the NFL, only to be released last month by the San Francisco 49ers after appearing in six games.
The Rabbitohs said Burgess remained under contract with them until the end of the 2018 season, adding: "Thomas Burgess has been given the opportunity to develop his skills by participating in NFL training during his off-season break.
"The Rabbitohs value Thomas' desire to be the best professional athlete he can be and support his endeavour."
Rabbitohs head coach Michael Maguire said he had discussed with Burgess ways to improve the player's speed, strength and agility and was confident that the experience would be beneficial.
"We're fully supportive of our players trying to improve themselves," Maguire said.
"This will provide a unique and valuable experience for Thomas, one that he will no doubt learn a lot from and in turn be able to bring back to the Rabbitohs for the coming season."
Burgess has previously spoken of a liking for the NFL, though, saying earlier this year: "I have shown interest in NFL for a while and I'd spoken to a few of my friends about how I'd love to go there but somehow it's been turned into I've got a contract out there.
"That's not the case, there's nothing there yet and I've not spoken to anyone. It is something I definitely wouldn't turn my nose up at, I'd look into it but there's nothing there currently."
Burgess' brother George also plays for the Rabbitohs as does Sam, 26, who has returned to the club after playing for England at this year's rugby union World Cup.
