#1. Sam Burgess – 22%
England, who fast-tracked Burgess into their World Cup squad in defiance of logic, Bath and the player himself each shoulder varying degrees of blame for arguably the greatest cross-code flop in history. We’re not saying he was an awful player, but the whole thing was a complete disaster.
![](https://www.ruck.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1839411-1024x589.jpg)
Sam Burgess facts:
- In late 2014, Burgess switched codes to play rugby union for Bat
- Burgess was born on 14 December 1988 in Liversedge, Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England
- His late father, Mark Burgess, who died of motor neurone disease, was also a rugby league footballer who played for Nottingham City, Rochdale Hornets, Dewsbury and Hunslet
- Burgess currently works as an assistant coach for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
- His older brother, Luke, and younger twin brothers, Tom and George, are also professional rugby league footballers
- He played his junior rugby for Hunslet Parkside, Dewsbury Moor and also played for Liversedge Cricket Club