Richardson, who left Souths at the same time as Burgess to take up his current role, was a guest of Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood at Twickenham for Saturday's Rugby World Cup final and was present at the first rugby league Test match between England and the Kiwis at Hull's KC Stadium.

Returning: Sam Burgess is coming back to the Souths after a stint in English rugby union. Credit:Brendan Esposito

It is clearly the remit of Richardson to remove the only stumbling block to Burgess' return to the 13-man code - Bath's insistence on the return of the bulk of the £500,000 they reportedly paid to the Rabbitohs only 12 months ago.

The 26-year-old Burgess, who was a controversial selection for England's World Cup squad ahead of more established players, has two years left of his contract with Bath and is due to return to the Aviva Premiership club on Monday after being given time off to consider his future.

However, Bath coach Mike Ford admitted the player "didn't quite feel right" when he initially returned from his unhappy stint with England during their failed World Cup campaign and Press Association Sport understands he told his former rugby league team-mates at their international with France last weekend that he has played his last match of rugby union.