Sam Burgess runs with the ball during Bath's victory over London Irish© Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images

Bath's inside centre-come-flanker Sam Burgess is ready to put his hand up for England duty.

Stuart Lancaster will next week unveil the 45-man training squad for the Rugby World Cup and Burgess has long been rumoured to be in line for a call-up to the extended party. The cross-code star started his life in Bath's back division - predominantly at inside centre - but he has recently excelled at blindside.

Despite having only been in union since November, Burgess, 25, says he is ready to answer England's call if they name him in the training squad.

"I would never say 'I don't think I am ready'," Burgess said of his England prospects. "I would always put my hand up. There's plenty of time prior to everything kicking off but all that's out of my control at the moment.

"I will focus on what we are doing here at Bath. I don't know what Mike Ford or Stuart Lancaster might have said but I will crack on with what I am doing here and let that take care of itself. But if the chance came to represent my country, I would give my utmost to represent it the best I could."

Burgess has been working under former rugby league player Mike Ford at Bath and the head coach has been full of praise for the ex-Rabbitoh since he journeyed from one code to the other. And Ford believes Burgess' versatility is enough to see him included in the wider World Cup squad.

"I think Sam should be in England's wider 45, definitely," Ford said. "When we moved Sam to six I was pretty much certain Stuart Lancaster would pick him in that wider squad regardless of where we were playing him, because of his leadership qualities.

"Now though I think Stuart looking in will probably think this is an added string to his bow that enhances his selection - because now he has proved he can play two positions. That gives you the option to have six forwards on the bench, because Sam can cover the backs as well."

He added: "He has a phenomenal work-rate - the other week he made 46 plays in 62 minutes. Francois Louw is top of that every week, he tops those numbers, but he was 41 after 80 minutes.

"That's what we saw in Sam when we brought him over from South Sydney. And the way we're trying to play with ball in hand, he understands it a lot better than some of the others [Bath back-rowers], in terms of the chaos attack.

"He's a leader: when you go through the periods where the opposition are on top he doesn't panic. He stays tight; he gives the right chat to the players, telling them to see it through and not to worry. He'll say 'give me the football, I'll make that tackle'."