SYDNEY - South Sydney has signed highly-rated English youngster Sam Burgess on a four-year NRL deal to join what looms as a formidable forward pack.
The 20-year-old forward, rated as one of the best prospects in the English game, is believed to have been convinced to head to Australia by a face-to-face meeting with the Rabbitohs' celebrity owner Russell Crowe.
The 195cm tall Burgess is equally adept at playing in the front or back row and will join Brisbane powerhouse David Taylor and former Queensland Origin prop Ben Ross as newcomers at Redfern Oval next season.
"Sam Burgess is one of the rising superstars of the game and we're delighted that he will be joining us in 2010," said Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson.
"There was a lot of interest in Sam despite still being under contract to Bradford for next season, but ours was the club he wanted to play for and we're pleased that we could come to an arrangement with Bradford that allowed him to come to Australia to test himself in the NRL."
Aside from Burgess, Taylor and Ross, the Rabbitohs also have players like Queensland enforcer Michael Crocker and Kiwi pair Roy Asotasi and Issac Luke in what is shaping as one of the league's strongest packs.
- AAP
NRL: Souths sign English star
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