Chief executive of the Rugby Football Union Ian Ritchie has insisted that there is no 'embarrassment' on England's part following Sam Burgess's decision to switch back to rugby league after just one year in union.

The 26-year-old rejoined NRL side South Sydney Rabbitohs last week following a brief spell at Bath.

Burgess's selection during England's World Cup campaign caused much debate, and some fans blamed the Yorkshireman for the team's exit at the pool stage.

When asked about Burgess in a press conference this afternoon, Ritchie said: "I don't find the Sam Burgess situation in any way embarrassing. We had one of the world's leading league players wanting to come and play rugby union.

"We did not pay any money to bring him to England and there was no insistence on our part that he was picked. He was coached perfectly while with England and he has made his decision for factors that our outside our control.

"Everyone can have a view about whether it was right or wrong to select him, but there is no embarrassment on the RFU's part."

England head coach Stuart Lancaster stepped down from his role today.