Heading home! George Burgess reveals he is leaving Australia as he announces move from the South Sydney Rabbitohs to Wigan
Suspended prop George Burgess has played his final NRL regular season for South Sydney after signing a three-year deal with English side Wigan Warriors.
Five-time Super League champions Wigan announced the 27-year-old England international front-rower will join them for the 2020 season.
It is not clear whether Burgess’ growing family will be moving with him. He has two young children and his wife Joanna is pregnant with their third.
Burgess is serving a nine-match ban after being found guilty of eye-gouging earlier this month but will be available for Souths, if as expected, they make the NRL finals.
George Burgess (pictured with wife Joanna and children Boston, two, and 11-month-old daughter Birdie) has played his final NRL regular season for South Sydney
‘George is one of the world’s best front-rowers,’ Wigan head coach Adrian Lam said in a club statement.
‘He is respected highly by his peers in the NRL and at international level and his experience, leadership and physicality will be of real benefit for us.’
Burgess, who has played 147 NRL games since his debut for the Rabbitohs in 2012, has also played 15 Tests for his country.
He won the NRL premiership with Souths in 2014, in a team that included his twin brother Tom and older brother Sam.
‘Although it’s a huge decision to leave the NRL and say goodbye to Souths, I’m excited as to what the future will hold at Wigan Warriors and the Super League,’ Burgess said.
Five-time Super League champions Wigan announced the 27-year-old England international front-rower will join them for the 2020 season