Burgess out for Bath

Both the highs and lows of rugby were experienced by Bath-bound Sam Burgess as the rugby league star played and won Sunday’s NRL Grand Final with a fractured eye socket and broken cheekbone.

The English rugby league star is expected to be out for at least two months after clashing heads with England teammate James Graham in the first clash of the title decider between South Sydney and the Canterbury Bulldogs at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.

The 25-year-old remained on the field for the entire 80 minutes of the game with a man-of-the-match performance to guide his Rabbitohs side to their first Grand-Final victory in 43 years.

The game was always to be Burgess’s swan-song with rugby league, before switching codes over to the union game at the end of this month.

The former Bradford Bulls star has been one of the biggest union talking points over the summer and it looks as if the anticipation of his arrival will have to be dragged out just a bit longer.

A statement from South Sydney said: "Scans this morning have confirmed that Rabbitohs lock Sam Burgess requires surgery to repair fractures in his cheekbone and eye socket.

"Burgess will have surgery this afternoon to have a plate inserted into his face to repair the damage.

"The Rabbitohs will have a further update following the completion of the surgery."

"Just laying in hospital waiting for surgery," Burgess wrote on his Twitter account. "I look similar to a hamster at the moment.

"I wouldn't change anything for the world though.

"Thanks to everyone for your well wishes and congratulations. It's been an amazing journey this year with a fitting end. Wow."

The extent of his injuries could leave his union debut now until 2015, casting serious doubt over his potential participation in the World Cup next autumn.

In February he signed a three-year contract with Bath, who are thought to have paid £500,000 to secure his release from the two years remaining on his deal with Souths.

"It will be a while, but that is the least of my worries right now," Burgess told 2KY's Big Sports Breakfast on Tuesday.

"Hopefully this face won't be damaged for too long. I have to get it fixed and then crack on."

Burgess' heroics have drawn comparisons with those of Souths' legend John Sattler, who played 77 minutes of the 1970 Grand-Final win over Manly with a broken jaw.

Sydney Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall also played 65 minutes with a broken jaw in his club's win over Manly in the 2013 decider.