There is much more than national pride at stake for Tom Burgess over the next five weeks. For over 15 years, the prospect of an England squad without the surname Burgess has been unthinkable. But even Tom would be the first to admit that he did not envisage being the sole survivor of the clan going into this year’s World Cup.
So much has changed in the five years since England fell desperately short against Australia in the last World Cup final: not least in the Burgess family. That day, Tom shared the field with his older brother Sam. But he and Tom’s twin, George, have since been forced into premature retirement. The dream of the three brothers representing their country in a home World Cup together this year failed to materialise.
