Sam Burgess has agreed a surprise move to become the head coach of Warrington from next season. The dual-code England international will succeed Daryl Powell, who was sacked last week, after signing a two‑year deal with the Wolves for his first head coaching job with an elite club.
Since retiring in 2019 Burgess has been working as an assistant coach at South Sydney Rabbitohs, the National Rugby League club where he earned legendary status during a stellar playing career in two spells either side of a stint in rugby union with Bath. He will now return to England after a whirlwind few days when Warrington convinced the 34‑year‑old to take over the reins.
“From playing in the Super League to having the opportunity to lead an incredible club, it’s a full-circle moment and one I am fully committed to and excited by,” Burgess said. “I want to thank Simon [Moran, Warrington’s owner], Stuart [Middleton, the chairman] and Karl [Fitzpatrick, the chief executive] for their courage and collaboration, as I look forward to returning to England to coach this great club.
“We still have an opportunity [at Souths] to play some great football for the remainder of the year and to do so alongside our current staff and squad is my focus.”
Warrington had initially lined up the former St Helens coach Justin Holbrook as Powell’s successor but Holbrook changed his mind at the end of last week, deciding instead to join Sydney Roosters as an assistant coach.
That led Warrington to Burgess and after intensive talks over the weekend the Rabbitohs agreed to release him. He will become the youngest head coach in Super League.
Burgess played twice for Great Britain and 24 times for England in rugby league and won five England caps in rugby union. He was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal as man of the match in the 2014 NRL Grand Final despite sustaining a broken cheekbone in the first tackle of the game.
“We’re thrilled to have Sam join us,” Middleton said. “He is an impressive, young and determined coach with a huge reputation within the sport. The ambition he has for the club and the culture he wants to instil really impressed and stood out for us during the interview process. We firmly believe he is the right man to take the club forward.”
