Sam Burgess wants to stay in rugby until at least the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan according to reports, and wants the No.6 on the back of his jersey instead of No.12.

Speaking to the London Times, Bath coach Mike Ford confirmed Burgess intends to extend his current playing contract for a further two years, a deal that would keep the former NRL star in the 15-man game until at least 2019.

“The last conversation I had with him, he was going to extend his contract with us and he wanted to go for the next World Cup. He is going to play for us for the next few years. He loves rugby union, he is settled in Bath and he knows he is a six,” Ford said.

Burgess has jumped between inside centre and the backrow since converting to rugby late last year, however Ford said he had no doubt where the 26-year old was best suited to play.

“Proving he is an international back-rower is the big challenge now for Sam,” Ford said. “He’s always been a No 6 for us, no question. We’ve talked about next time the England squad gets selected, his goal’s got to be to be there as a six.

“He said to me, ‘I know I am a six.’ He enjoys being a six, he enjoys the game better because he is more involved,” Ford added.

Burgess was not considered as a forward for England, as head coach Stuart Lancaster didn’t consider him a genuine line-out option, however Ford is hopeful that will change during the upcoming English Premiership and European Cup seasons.

“We’ve said, ‘Come back to Bath, carry on playing well,’ ” Ford said. “We have an unbelievable run of fixtures coming up, we have Toulon, Leinster, Leicester, Northampton and Wasps twice.

“If he can play six in those games, against the best in Europe, I am sure England will have a look at him in that role. I am sure he’ll break into the international squad as a six.”

Burgess has copped the full brunt of the harsh English media following England’s shock losses to Wales and Australia, with #BlameBurgess trending on twitter, however Ford had nothing but praise for the former South Sydney Rabbitoh.

“In a short space of time, he’s changed codes and got into a World Cup squad. Whatever you think, I think that’s pretty phenomenal.”

“He just shrugs his shoulders. We talk constantly. He is in a good place in terms of making a success of rugby union.”