Bath have financed Sam Burgess' big-money transfer and will call the shots on what position he fills in rugby union, coach Mike Ford says.
Ford confirmed Bath owner Bruce Craig bankrolled Burgess' STG500,000 ($A930,000) transfer from South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The 25-year-old will move to the Recreation Ground in October at the end of the NRL season, with Ford pledging Bath will build a game plan around their "megastar" recruit.
The Rugby Football Union was rumoured to have offered financial assistance to bring Englishman Burgess across codes and continents, with an eye on his international future, but Ford said Bath have spent big and now hold all the cards.
"He's our player, Bruce has financed the deal, he's our player and we'll decide, when the time's right, where he plays, and we'll develop him the way we want," said former England coach Ford.
"It's fantastic for us. I feel this is the best place for Sam to make the transition.
"We'll figure out his best position pretty quickly, but we're quite relaxed about that for now."
Bath's coaches watched the autumn's rugby league World Cup to identify potential cross-code recruits, and Burgess emerged top of the pile.
Bath are fine-tuning the methods of helping a league star convert to union, that will be ready for Burgess' autumn arrival.
"He won't be Francois Louw no matter how long he's in the game," said Ford, careful Bath do not blunt his raw ability in asking Burgess to adapt to union rules.
"He won't be a guy who steals the football on the ground and can do all that dog work.
