World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward has launched a stinging attack on English rugby following Sam Burgess’ return to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, describing it as “embarrassing”, “arrogant” and a “laughing stock”.

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Burgess has decided to go back to rugby league after just one season in union, cutting short his stint with Bath to rejoin old club Souths on a three-year deal.

Burgess, who says he has missed his family in Australia, found himself in the spotlight during England’s miserable World Cup campaign having been fast-tracked into the national set-up despite his lack of experience.

The 26-year-old’s premature return to league means he will be considered among the biggest cross-code flops in history, but Woodward believes it is wrong to lay any blame on player and has heavily criticised the RFU.

Writing in his column in the Daily Mail, Woodward said: “I said last week that Sam Burgess is not to blame for this mess and I stand by it. But with his return to rugby league we’ve reached one of the alltime lows and most embarrassing points in English rugby history.

“The RFU has spent the last four years congratulating itself on the direction in which we’re heading, but the truth is we have marched confidently into a total mess. The review after the 2011 World Cup was a shambles. Players and coaches let down by media leaks, good men exposed as scapegoats and lesser men hiding and shirking responsibility. Nothing has changed.”

England’s 2003 World Cup-winning coach added: “We are the laughing stock of not only world rugby but also sport and business. The rest of the world says those involved in English rugby are arrogant. I hate this reputation, but that is exactly what the RFU have been.”

Burgess said after sealing his switch back to league: “I had a wonderful time in England and learnt a lot about the game of rugby union as both a back and a forward, and I have definitely developed as an all-round player and athlete after that.”