Russell Crowe insists Sam Burgess should have been fast-tracked into the England rugby union team despite the indifferent start to his career.

Crowe and Burgess have been close friends ever since Crowe signed Burgess to play for South Sydney in the NRL in 2009.

Burgess left the Rabbitohs after winning a premiership at the end of last season.

Since switching codes, Burgess has been unable to impose himself in the same way for his club Bath and endured a disappointing evening against the Irish Wolfhounds on his debut for England’s second string Saxons four weeks ago.

But the Oscar-winning actor says he thinks that will change.

“Never bet against Sam Burgess when faced with a challenge, that’s what I’d say. Sam is a fine young man and is just going to get better,” Crowe said.

“If I was anything to do with English rugby union, I’d just select him in my squad because he’s a very fast learner.

“You want your top 30 athletes representing the country and he has to be among the top 30 athletes in rugby union right now.”

Burgess’ place in South Sydney folklore is secure after playing through the pain barrier to help defeat Canterbury in last year’s NRL grand final.

Just six seconds into the game he shattered his eye socket during an injury that later needed five metal plates to repair the damage to his cheekbone, yet he still finished as man of the match.

Crowe insists that if Burgess’ union career does not work out, he is welcome back at the Rabbitohs.

“Sam is a son of South Sydney. He’s a South Sydney warrior. There is absolutely no way to remove our club from his heart, or him from our hearts,” Crowe said.

Crowe and Burgess will attend Sunday night’s rugby league World Club Challenge when South Sydney face Super League champions St Helens at Langtree Park.