Luther Burrell takes a mischievous move to the union as he prepares to exchange codes

"You will not be able to understand me in 12 months!" said Luther Burrell with a chuckle. He reflects on how his voice changed during his years in the rugby union – after his partner, Milli, joked that he had abandoned his northern accent to fit in.

"An infusion will always be an infusion! he adds, boiling the kettle in his kitchen in the countryside of Northamptonshire.

The conversation focused on the clbad prejudices of rugby union. Burrell spent a decade or so at the top of the sport. He is therefore able to think as he prepares to join the Warrington Wolves of the rugby league at the end of the season.

How will he describe the union to his teammates in the league? He pauses to laugh, before answering: "I'll say … it's different, innit! And then they will say … "In what way?"

For context, Burrell grew up in an old council house in Huddersfield. He was educated in a public school and was first rejected by the Leeds Academy. It's his perseverance that has earned him 15 selections in England and a Premiership title in Northampton.

"Everyone knows that the rugby union is mostly practiced by boarders or private schools," he says. "I'm not going to lie … at first, especially in the English context, I felt a little out of place. I felt embarrbaded to be judged. I was nervous about being part of those fine dinners where you go.

"I do not give any more c ** p, but just two weeks ago, someone came to see me at a dinner and said," So, in what school are you? Have you gone? " I went to All Saints School in Huddersfield and my mom and dad did not drive a BMW. I do not even think that they even have a rugby team. Not a good sign, is not it? This requires investment. Is the rugby union lacking talent? Absolutely. It has to integrate more in the small schools of the north.

I am grateful to Stuart Lancaster [then head of the academy at Leeds] and the rugby union for giving me the opportunities I had, but most people in my community probably do not have that chance.

So what advice would Burrell give to a boy from Huddersfield, faced with the choice between league and union? "I would tell him to go play in the league because there are more opportunities in the north.

For Burrell himself, the change will open a new world of opportunity at the age of 31. It will coincide with the birth of her second child in July, joining Luna, two years old. The center is popular among its peers and has received offers from rival clubs from Premiership and France. However, the new career will bring him closer to home and take him out of his comfort zone. That marks the end of his English career under Eddie Jones, although the Rugby World Cup is on the horizon in 2021.

"It was a long and thoughtful decision for me," he says, sitting with his little black dog, Vinny, sitting on the couch.

"Warrington came into contact in 2016 but I was coming back to the English team. I had a little work left over after missing the 2015 World Cup [he was controversially replaced in the squad by rugby league convert Sam Burgess] so I said, "Sorry, not now." That has been my concern since then.

"Leaving Northampton is a big deal for me. Bloomin 'heck, I've been here eight seasons and I' ve had a bad time. Guys take p *** on me from the north and I resume the p *** about their little pinky rings! The club wanted to give me an extension, but I was not 100% satisfied. There is only one other Premiership club for which I would leave Saints, but it was not on the table. & # 39;

Who? & # 39; Dirty … but they have just signed a big South African center and they have young boys arriving. I could have stayed in Northampton and be comfortable in the rugby union but I wanted to take a chance. The Warrington coaches really want to get on board and it's a great feeling to feel really wanted. & # 39;

Can a rugby league world cup cure the scars of 2015? "They are healed, man. It was heartbreaking but I'm done now.

Burrell played just 29 minutes of rugby test under Jones, having been suspended after the first half of England 's victory over the first test against Australia in 2016.

Since then, he has been pursuing this dream, but it is becoming more and more impossible as Jones reduces his options at the World Cup.

"I spoke to Eddie when making my decision and asked," What are the chances? " he says. "He said that if I always did better than everyone else, he could not not choose me. This was not really an answer. A few weeks after this conversation, they went to camp in Portugal and brought Jonathan Joseph back to the team. He had not played rugby in God knows how long. This kind of answer to my question.

Burrell is now focusing solely on the end of his career at Saints. At five days of the season, the club is trying to secure a spot for the playoffs after a recovery under the guidance of Chris Boyd.

"It's a happy camp now," said Burrell. "We are fifth, so it would be wise to be in the top four and try to win. It would not be a bad way out, is not it?