According to reports Bath rugby club in England has granted star convert Sam Burgess time off to consider a shift back to Australia and the NRL’s South Sydney Rabbitohs.

It has been a tumultuous time for the premiership-winning former Rabbitoh who was hammered in the UK media as England slumped at the Rugby World Cup, knocked out prior to the quarter-finals.

A Channel Nine report in Sydney previously suggested Burgess had already been in talks with the 2014 NRL Champions.

Brother Tom recently poured water on speculation telling The Daily Telegraph Sam believed he still had more to prove in the 15-man code.

“I’d love to play alongside Sam again. I had two years with him (at Rabbitohs) and I’d love for him to come back,’’ Tom said.

“At the end of the day it’s his decision. You never know, we’ll see what happens.

“To make the England squad in the World Cup is a massive achievement, and to play in it as well. He’s enjoyed the experience, but I don’t think he’s finished (with union) just yet.’’

BBC Radio 5 live’s Alastair Eykyn made the most telling comment of all reports when he said Burgess was not happy.

“It’s safe to say Sam Burgess’ future lies in the balance,” Eykyn said.

“It will be decided in the coming days. Speculation has been rife in Australia that he’s going to return to the Rabbitohs.

“His brothers have both signed contract extensions with the Rabbitohs last week. We know he feels the draw of playing back with them again.

“He’s not been very happy and has been contemplating a move. Bath are desperately keen he stays. Any decision to leave would be a real bombshell for them.”

Former English rugby player Matt Dawson told BBC Burgess should go back to the game that made him famous.

“He is one of the greatest rugby league players to ever play the game but to have the confidence, verging on arrogance, to suggest that he could do the same in a completely different game, in a decision-making position, has been shown up,” Dawson said.

“Whether he stays or not, it is another dirty chapter in the story that is not really his making.

“If I was in his position – given the choice of being a superstar rugby league player or tried week in week out in rugby union – I know what I would do.”

Australian great Matthew Johns told Triple M Sydney this morning he had heard that Burgess was set for a shock comeback to the NRL in 2016.

“My mail is Sam is desperate to return to Souths even though the Leeds Rhinos in the UK Super League wanna come in. But he wants to come back to South Sydney,” he said.

“And the bottom line is Bath look prepared to release Sam if he wants to go and that if Souths can find the salary cap room I’d say he’d be a Rabbitoh next year.”

Souths are willing to re-shape their roster for next season and cut players but the decision is completely in Burgess’ court.

@woodward_curtis