Burgess 'set' for Bath move

Bath are poised to announce the signing of Sam Burgess, Press Association Sport understands.

Rugby league side South Sydney Rabbitohs have reportedly been offered a £500,000 transfer fee by the Aviva Premiership side to release the 25-year-old former Bradford Bulls favourite from his contract, which has three years to run.

It is believed the Rabbitohs were officially contacted about the move for the first time last week and were told Bath would pay the compensation to enable him to make a cross-code switch at the end of the season.

The Rugby Football Union, with an eye on the 2015 Rugby World Cup, was thought to be willing to part fund a move that would buy Burgess out of the remaining two years of his contract with the Australian side.

There was confusion as to whether any deal would proceed as rival Premiership clubs opposed plans by the RFU to pay a transfer fee to enable Burgess to play for one of their opponents.

However, Bath appear to have now found the money elsewhere and there are suggestions that an announcement may be made by the West Country club on Monday.