Former English Rugby International Dave Attwood has revealed his strange introduction to NRL star Sam Burgess before the South Sydney Rabbitohs premiership-winner switched to union ahead of the 2015 season at Bath.

Attwood, a veteran who debuted for Bristol in 2005 and was a member of the Bath side when Burgess was signed, has told RugbyPass Offload of the strange way he met Burgess.

“There were some amazing things,” Attwood said – who played 24 Internationals for England in union.

“The whole organisation was called into a meeting and [coach] Mike Ford played a video of Sam Burgess highlights from rugby league.

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“He was like, ‘It’s exciting times, we have signed the best player in the world’.

“Cue the video. It’s narrated by Russell Crowe, basically talking about how amazing Sam is and is the best thing ever in rugby league… and then at the end of it… silence.

“Fordy stands up and he is clapping on his own because everyone else is like, ‘What? What do you mean he is the best player in the world? He hasn’t even played the game [union] before.

“He plays a different game, you do realise that, Fordy, you realise you have signed someone who plays a different sport?’ It didn’t get off to the best start.”

The presentation didn’t help anyone at Bath as Attwood revealed that the squad was already against adding Burgess to their team.