Sam Burgess will start his Bath Rugby career in the centres when he completes his cross-code switch later this year.
Bath head coach Mike Ford had initially indicated he saw rugby league superstar Burgess as a back-row option but confirmed to BBC 5 Live that he would initially play in the backs.
Ford also confirmed that Burgess will join Bath on October 15 after the conclusion of the NRL season in October. The 25-year-old's arrival at The Rec from South Sydney Rabbitohs was first announced back in February.
Ford said: "We'll start him in the centres, so he can see the game live.
"We need to get him into the nitty-gritty of the game. We don't want to change who he is. We've got to figure out how the game-plan fits Sam.
"I went to see Sam in June and I'm on the phone to him every day. South Sydney are doing really well this year.
"He'll be over on October 15, so it's all planned. There are a couple of fixtures in November and there's definitely a plan of where to play him and when to fit him in.
"We're going to have to look after him, see where his body is. I don't want him to be burnt out, come March and April.
"Hopefully, when he comes, there's a platform for him to perform well."
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