Sam Burgess: Rugby League star makes Union debut for Bath

The ex-Rabbitohs man played the final 17 minutes in a 25-6 win

Sam Burgess makes his rugby union debut (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Sam Burgess has made his first appearance for Bath after switching codes from rugby league.

The 25-year-old came on for Horacio Agulla after 63 minutes minutes as his new club beat Harlequins 25-6 at the Recreation Ground last night.

As expected, he lined up at inside centre rather than in the back row as the Bath coach George Ford had previously hinted.

Burgess's debut had been delayed as he recovered from a fractured cheekbone sustained helping the South Sydney Rabbitohs win the NRL Grand Final at the start of October.

The ex-Leeds Rhinos man was named man of the match in his final league appearance after playing injured for almost the entire match.

Burgess, who received a fine reception from the crowd of over 13,000 at the Rec, played 15 times for England and Great Britain before switching codes.

He is now expected to push for a place in Stuart Lancaster's squad for next year's World Cup.