Bath and England fly-half George Ford has backed club captain Stuart Hooper over his treatment of Sam Burgess following the convert's decision to switch back to rugby league.
Burgess rejoined the South Sydney Rabbitohs last week having lasted just a year in rugby union, with his time including a controversial selection in Stuart Lancaster's squad for England's ill-fated World Cup campaign.
Hooper refused Burgess the chance to speak to his Bath teammates before leaving the club, and Ford believes that the skipper made the correct decision in doing so.
"People have had a go at Stuart for it, but he's the best captain I've worked under," he is quoted as saying by PA.
"Every decision he makes is normally 99% right and we back him every time. There's lads who would die for the club - those lads who have come through the academy, and other lads like me who have been here for two or three years and are passionate about it.
"The lads who would die for this club sacrificed a lot for Sam when he came over and committed to him, and put time and effort into making him the player he was at the back end of last year when he was named in that World Cup squad. I feel for the lads and back Stuart 100%."
Meanwhile, George Ford's father and head coach at Bath Mike Ford suggested that Burgess "didn't have the stomach" to see out his contract with the club.
Barney Corkhill
