Bumped ... The Rabbitohs have told the Poms Sam Burgess is unavailable for selection.
SOUTH Sydney are refusing to allow star forward Sam Burgess to play for England next month in a move certain to inflame international relations.
Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson said he "couldn't care less" about helping England, who want Burgess to return for a one-off Test against France on June 12 - the same weekend South Sydney are due to play the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Newly-appointed England coach Steve McNamara, whom Burgess played under during his four seasons at Super League giant Bradford Bulls, called the Rabbitohs second-rower on Tuesday and asked if he could line up for the one-off Test.
It's also understood that McNamara told Burgess he was the front-runner to replace Jamie Peacock as England captain in the next two years.
It's believed that a patriotic Burgess was ready to answer McNamara's call by returning home for the first time since his arrival at Redfern last December.
Burgess has played six matches for England and two matches for Great Britain, and scored two tries in his most recent appearance against Australia in the 2009 Four Nations final.
"It's not like you knock back the chance to play for your country every day - of course he was keen to play," a source close to Burgess told The Sunday Telegraph yesterday.
However, with the Rabbitohs scheduled to play the Broncos on Sunday, June 13, Burgess has been told by South Sydney management he will be unavailable to represent his country.
"Sam will be at Suncorp Stadium on June 13, playing against the Brisbane Broncos," Richardson told The Sunday Telegraph last week.
"I've spoken to Langy [coach John Lang] and Sam and he's fine with it."
Asked what England officials would think of the decision, Richardson replied: "I don't care what they think.
"Sam has a contract with the South Sydney Rabbitohs and as far as we are concerned he'll be in Brisbane on that weekend.
"You don't see the UK-based Kiwis coming out for the Anzac Test - and let's be honest, this is just a one-off match against France."
Richardson refused to concede the decision could have a detrimental effect on Burgess' ambitions to be a future England and Britain captain.
"If I was Steve McNamara, I wouldn't think that would be a factor to any decisions down the track," Richardson said.
Widely regarded as potentially one of the best English imports to play in the NRL, Burgess has had little trouble adjusting to the style of football in Australia or the lifestyle.
The 21-year-old has delivered on the hype that surrounded the announcement that he had signed a four-year deal with the Rabbitohs, and most believe that with further experience in the NRL he will be an even better player.
But Souths officials believe he has yet to hit his straps this season because a severe injury toll to the pack has forced the strike forward to play a variety roles for coach Lang.