England forward Sam Burgess has been called into the NRL All Stars team to replace international team-mate Gareth Ellis.
England forward replaces Ellis
England forward Sam Burgess has been called into the NRL All Stars team to replace international team-mate Gareth Ellis.
West Tigers ace Ellis has withdrawn from the squad following the birth of his first child.
The 21-year-old has yet to play a match for new side South Sydney following the move from Bradford at the end of the 2009 season.
The England star enjoyed a successful time at the Bulls, being named the senior academy player of the year after only his first season.
Established
An England call-up soon followed for Burgess, with the forward making his Great Britain debut back in 2007 against New Zealand.
In the four years spent at Bradford, the 21-year-old established himself as a first team player, making a total of 80 appearances for the club.
Burgess will make his first appearance in Australia at Redfern Oval on Sunday before joining up with the All Stars squad to face Indigenous.
The highly anticipated event commences on February 13 at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast, in what is expected to be a blockbuster event.
