Bath head coach Mike Ford has confirmed that Sam Burgess has decided to remain at the club after deliberating on whether or not to switch back to rugby league.

The 26-year-old signed a three-year deal with Bath last year after switching codes, in the hope of playing in the World Cup on UK soil.

Burgess was selected for England after making his debut in August, but the Red Rose failed to progress past the group stages in the tournament.

The England centre, who was recently given some time off to consider his future, has been in talks with his former rugby league side South Sydney Rabbitohs, but according to Ford, Burgess has opted to stay put at Bath.

"This is the time that he becomes a better rugby union player," Ford told BBC Radio Four. "I've spoken to Sam many times and we've spoken about coming back to Bath, rolling his sleeves up and playing [at number] six for us.

"Everything we have spoken about has been about his future and playing well for Bath and potentially getting him to play for England in the Six Nations, or if not, at the end of the season on tour to Australia."

Burgess spent eight years playing rugby league before switching codes.