SAM Burgess is ready to be Bath’s gladiator.

The wait was finally over for the Rec faithful as the 25-year-old rugby league superstar slipped on a Blue, Black and White shirt for the first time this morning as part of the most high-profile cross-code switch in history.

‘Slammin’ Sam’ closed the book on his league career in spectacular fashion as he starred in the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL Grand Final victory at the start of that month, with one of the defining images circulating following that triumph showing Burgess, fractured eyesocket and all, in an emotional embrace with Rabbitohs co-owner and Hollywood star Russell Crowe.

Bath’s stellar new signing is thrilled to be back in his home country following a sensational spell down under and is already planning to extend his A-list Australian friend an invitation to visit him in his new home.

“I’ve got a great friendship with Russell. I’ve built that over five or six years,” said Burgess.

“We set out five years ago to try and win (the NRL) and we finally did it in our last year.

“So since that, me and Russell went up to his farm. I spent four or five days up there after surgery and relaxed. We had a couple of beers together and we had a good time.

“He’s still a very good friend and he’s very supportive of me coming here, so the thing for me now is to try and get him down the Rec for a game. Let’s see if we can get him in a Bath shirt.

“My decision was clear from the beginning of the year. The way the year finished was unbelievable. I spoke about it with Russell that I wanted to win the championship in my last year and I did it.

“It certainly meant a lot to myself. And it meant a lot to a huge area of South Sydney. It was a wonderful feeling and the best of my career so far.

"I missed the country, I missed the people, and I am grateful for the chance to come back.

"I've been here a day now and it has been fantastic. I am really looking forward to the next few years down in Bath."

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