Someone who went through a similar crossover is England's defence and backline coach Andy Farrell who carved out a massive reputation with Wigan and England rugby league sides before making the switch.
After 370 games for Wigan and 48 tests for Great Britain and England when he played with and captained Burgess, Farrell's rugby aspirations stuttered as injuries kept him to 28 games for Saracens and eight caps for England.
Farrell almost matched Burgess for size but used his 1.93m, 108kg frame in a variety of positions in league. In rugby he swapped between midfield and flanker with England wanting him to wear the 12 jersey and his club keen on him in the backrow.
Farrell notes Bath want to use Burgess, initially in midfield, as he learns the nuances of his new sport.
Another code-hopper Kyle Eastmond occupies that role for Bath and was in New Zealand with the England squad in June. He offers a quick-stepping elusive style while Farrell should bring a much more direct, physical approach.
He will get strong tuition from club coach Mike Ford whose league career as a halfback with Castleford promoted him to their Hall of Fame. Ford later switched to coaching union and came to New Zealand as the midweek defensive co-ordinator with the Lions in 2005. He was also with the England squad but has now retreated to lead Bath's search for rugby titles.
Burgess was a prodigious schoolboy league talent growing up in Yorkshire and throughout his career he seemed to have lived his life under the school banner.
Nil Sine Labore or Nothing without work was the motto at Heckmondwicke Grammar School which also produced John Bentley, another crosscode international.
"You only have to watch him for a little while to see how much work he puts into all his sport," Farrell said of Burgess.
The pair have kept in touch since they played together and Burgess has been swotting up on his new code since he made the decision to switch.
"A lot of his thinking is ingrained because he has played rugby league for so long," Farrell said. "He knows that and is already working hard on things to help those changes and to get him attuned to his new sport.
"He only accepts winning and that is all about his strength of character and leadership. I'm sure his massive influence on everyone he comes into contact with, will come across straight away.
"Time in the game is the biggest thing when you play sport, time on the paddock helps everyone learn the most. He has been such a natural at league and his instincts have been tuned to that sport but he will adapt, I have no doubts about that."
Right now Burgess is recovering from surgery to repair his fractured cheekbone and eye socket suffered in the opening minute of the NRL final. Once he gets to Bath his education will be confined to the classroom and listening to training until he gets a clearance to resume contact work. At first, Farrell said, that will feel strange. The time and space differences would have an impact on his timing and he would have to adjust to the smaller gap union had at the breakdown.
"The biggest things he will have to get his head around will be the dos and don'ts in the contact area and decision-making. Line-running is his strength and he will have to work out where and when that can come into play."
Farrell would adapt quickly and ask the right questions. His attitude was unquestioned, his fitness was always top-notch and so was his appetite for this challenge.
"I'm sure he will take everyone to a new level because of his competitive nature and skills."
