Burgess was given time off after England's Rugby World Cup disaster and travelled to Spain to reflect on his future after completing the first year of his three-year contract with Bath.

Bath head coach Mike Ford revealed Burgess "didn't quite feel right" upon his return to club duty, while brother Tom said the 26-year-old had been "treated unfairly" and this was "pushing him away" from rugby union.

Ford, who wants Burgess to stay, has included him in a 41-man squad for this season's European Champions Cup, but the return of the Rabbitohs 2014 grand final hero just 12 months after switching codes appears inevitable, with PA tweeting that "he's told former team-mates his union career is over".

Fairfax Media has also been told that Burgess said to players in England's rugby league team's dressing room after their 84-4 defeat of France at Leigh 10 days ago that he "was not going back" to rugby union.

Burgess's presence at that match, during which he sat beside England coach Steve McNamara and was guest of honour in the Rugby Football League box, sparked speculation of his return to the South Sydney next season and his future was again a topic of conversation after Sunday's 26-12 first Test defeat of New Zealand in Hull.

"I hope he comes back to league for us, Sam's a league player," man-of-the-match Brett Ferres told reporters.

"He's a fantastic player and I was lucky enough to play with him at the World Cup and Bradford before that so I hope he does."

Hooker James Roby added: "He's part of England. If you've been involved in this set-up, you are always one of us."

Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan tweeted: "If true @SamBurgess8 ... Welcome back ... #League".

Tom Burgess re-affirmed the reasons Sam was considering a return to the NRL next season in an lengthy interview in The Guardian.

"I don't know a great deal about union but from what I saw it didn't look like Sam did much wrong," Burgess said.

"He was hard done by with some of the comments which made him a scapegoat.

"But there are a lot of upset people in union because England didn't do as well as they should have done. They like to point the finger at someone and the easiest option was to point it at the new fella. Sam knows it's their job to make a storyline. But he got treated unfairly really."

Burgess said he would love to see Sam back alongside him, twin George, brother Luke, who now plays for Manly, and their mum Julie, who all live in Sydney

"For me, on a personal note, it would be fantastic - and it would be great for South Sydney to have someone of Sam's ability and presence again," Tom said.

"But there are a lot of hoops you need to jump through to sort out a deal like that. If it could happen there would be a lot of happy people in Sydney."

Ford is planning to have a one-on-one discussion with Burgess and there is a possibility he could be selected for this weekend's match against London Irish if a deal is not finalised for his return to Souths before then.