Eastern Suburbs and Kiwi legend Hugh McGahan has blasted Sam Burgess and his former rugby club Bath in a stinging attack that didn’t miss the mark.

Writing for a New Zealand newspaper McGahan questioned Burgess’ motives.

“I can’t believe Sam Burgess has decided to pack up and move back to the comforts of rugby league and Souths,” McGahan wrote for the New Zealand Herald.

“His dalliance with rugby union was farcical and I still can’t work out what he was trying to achieve. What was the point of the exercise?

“When he left 12 months ago, he talked about a new challenge and trying to make the England World Cup squad.

“Well, he achieved the latter but he was gifted his position in Stuart Lancaster’s squad because he certainly didn’t earn it. England rugby should be embarrassed over the whole saga.

“He made no impact – he wasn’t a forward and he wasn’t a back – so he must have been a failure. But he was badly let down by Bath and England rugby, and his experience shows one of the main issues with English rugby.

“In New Zealand, the game is controlled from the top down. The All Blacks coach determines what happens with a player, not the clubs, so individuals are developed for the betterment of the game generally and not rich club owners.

“Bath hardly did the right thing by him trying to turn him into a different player to the one England wanted.”

McGahan played 117 games for the Roosters between 1985-1991 and 32 games for New Zealand.