Two NRL clubs have have pushed to bring South Sydney premiership star Sam Burgess out of retirement, with the Englishman understood to have turned down a return to the league despite strong consideration.

As reported by The Daily Telegraph, a pair of clubs - one believed to be the Wests Tigers - have miraculously moved to sign the 32-year-old, who medically retired in 2019 after ongoing shoulder issues.

While confirming that the Rabbitohs weren't one of the eager clubs, Burgess' adviser Braith Anasta revealed that the former Bradford and South Sydney forward had been tabled offers, but declined after some deliberation.

“The offers were genuine and Sam gave it some serious thought,” Ansata told The Daily Telegraph.

“They rang me and they were keen.

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 31: Sam Burgess talks to Adam Reynolds of the Rabbitohs prior to the round 12 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Bankwest Stadium on May 31, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

“It was definitely a consideration but it’s not going to happen. The career’s over.

“Playing rugby league was Sam’s life. He loved it and he misses it. To all of a sudden have to retire it was hard.”

Any potential return to the NRL for Burgess would come with several difficulties.
The 2014 Clive Churchill medallist would have to medically prove to the league that he is fit to return, while also gaining approval from the NRL Integrity Unit to play given their investigation into off-field discrepancies from last year.
Burgess played a total of 182 matches in the cardinal and myrtle across two stints either side of a brief spell with rugby outfit Bath and was a key member of the Rabbitohs' drought-breaking premiership seven years ago.