Koukash made bid to bring Burgess to Salford

Salford owner Dr Marwan Koukash has revealed he attempted to sign Sam Burgess, who will move to rugby union at the end of 2014.

Koukash has been lobbying to either increase the salary cap or add a marquee player rule to the system, which would enable clubs to sign one player who is exempt from the cap, a policy that’s in place in other sports, including in the revised rugby union Premiership salary cap from next season.

On the day it was announced Burgess was defecting to Bath rugby union, Koukash revealed that it was Burgess who he had wanted the rules changing for, to enable him to tempt the England international to the AJ Bell Stadium.

Koukash tweeted: “Sam Burgess is the one we asked the RFL to grant us and other Super League clubs exemption from the Cap to sign him. Big loss to RL and won’t be last.”

Koukash also tweet Burgess directly wishing him all the best for the future.

A local newspaper report also quotes Koukash as saying he will be putting a contract on the table for Burgess, should he ever decide to make a return to rugby league.