Monday 2 November 2015 20:41, UK
Tom Burgess says he thinks his brother Sam has been "treated a bit unfairly" since England's exit from the Rugby World Cup.
And Tom added that his brother has not yet made a decision on whether he will continue his rugby union career or switch back to rugby league.
Sam Burgess was a much-discussed member of the England squad who disappointed at the World Cup, defeats by Wales and Australia meaning they did not even escape the pool stage.
His inclusion was controversial and was cited in some quarters as one of the factors that contributed to England's disappointing performance.
The dual-code international is now due back at Bath on Monday, having been given some time off by coach Mike Ford.
However, he has been strongly linked with a return to his old Rugby League club, the Australian side South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Speaking after helping England's rugby league team beat New Zealand on Sunday, Tom was asked what his brother would do next and said: "It's a big talking point at the moment.
Speaking truthfully, he was probably treated a bit unfairly in my opinion, and that's probably what's pushing him away at the moment.
"It's a big tournament I suppose and they were very upset about the outcome, so they're going to talk about it for years.
"Speaking truthfully, he was probably treated a bit unfairly in my opinion, and that's probably what's pushing him away at the moment.
"He's had a week or 10 days off, that Mike Ford gave him to refresh him a little bit mentally, and he'll assess his options.
"He's not made any decision as yet, at the moment he's still with Bath."
Tom Burgess added that he felt his brother's fairly recent switch to rugby union was behind much of the criticism.
"He's new to union so that's probably why," he said. "In my opinion - I'm not an expert on union - I don't think he did too much wrong in that World Cup.
"He's enjoyed the experience but he's probably just a bit over some of the stick he's been getting."
Speculation over Sam Burgess' possible early exit from union has heightened following the arrival in England of a high-ranking official from Australia's National Rugby League.
Shane Richardson, who as South Sydney chief executive finalised the team's signing of Burgess from Bradford six years ago, has flown over for the England-New Zealand Tests and was among the crowd at the KC Stadium.
Richardson, who left Souths at the same time as Burgess to take up the role of head of strategy at the NRL, is expected to help try and remove the remaining obstacle to Burgess' return to the 13-man code, which is Bath's desire to recoup the bulk of the £500,000 they paid South Sydney a year ago.
But Tom Burgess said: "I've just spoken to Richo and he's not here to sign Sam, he's here as part of the International Federation. I think he's here for about a week and he's going to the London game too."
