Mike Ford says Sam Burgess would have stayed in union without England call-up

• Bath coach Ford says Burgess needed pre-season with club• Bath overcome Burgess departure to beat London Irish 45-14The Bath head coach says Sam Burgess would have stayed with his club and rugby union had England not picked him for the World Cup.Mike Ford believes that had the 26-year‑old not been selected by Stuart Lancaster less than a year after switching codes and spent pre-season with Bath instead, a return to rugby league would have been unlikely. Related: Bath blossom without Sam Burgess in emphatic win at London Irish Continue reading...