Renewed England scrutiny following Burgess rugby league return

England's handling of Sam Burgess came in for renewed scrutiny and criticism as his return to rugby league was rubber-stamped.

Burgess has signed a three-year contract with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the team he left last year for Bath and the opportunity to play for hosts England in rugby union's World Cup.

The player was known to be disillusioned with life playing union, but as recently as Wednesday, Bath had been insisting he would see out his contract with them. But the inevitable was confirmed on Thursday night, as the Souths announced his return in time for the 2016 NRL season.

Burgess, 26, was a scapegoat to many for the failure of Stuart Lancaster'sEngland team at the World Cup, where he was used at inside centre, having played his club rugby largely in the back row.

England colleague James Haskell said Burgess had "to be pretty happy" with his achievements in such a short period of time, but former Red Rose players were dismissive of the efforts to integrate a world-class player from the 13-man code into top-level union.

Former England fly-half Olly Barkley said there must be people heldaccountable.

Burgess will be considered among the biggest cross-code flops in history, with England, Bath and the player himself shouldering varying degrees of blame for the failure of a move that started amid such high expectation.

Many believe it was the decision by the England coaching team to fast-track him into the World Cup squad, despite a lack of evidence the player was ready for the global stage, that was the final nail in the coffin.

Burgess started the loss to Wales and made appearances against Fiji and Australia, deployed at inside centre, despite playing his best rugby for Bath at blindside flanker.

However, St Helens captain Jon Wilkin said Burgess was simply missing his family too much, with brothers Luke, Tom and George all playing Down Under - Tom and George both with the Rabbitohs.

Burgess' departure from union has not been met totally with doom and gloom, with his switch back to league will be met with open arms by England Rugby League fans, along with the Souths, whom he played in 96 NRL matches, including a Clive Churchill Medal-winning performance in the victorious 2014 Grand Final.

For Burgess himself, a proud man, who repeatedly stated during the World Cup that he was determined to succeed, and impervious to the criticism that surrounded his selection and performances, departing after just 12 months will be a personal embarrassment.

He diplomatically said that he had benefited from his time playing union, and thanked his former club for allowing his release:

With the transfer completed, and his foray into union behind him, Burgess will be keen to get back onto the pitch when the NRL restarts in 2016 to regain the form that generated the hysteria around his initial move and let his game do the talking.