Former England rugby union centre Sam Burgess has blamed the team’s 2015 Rugby World Cup pool exit on “individual egos and selfish players”.

England, who three years ago became the first host nation not to progress into the knockouts, were beaten by Wales and Australia at Twickenham.

That cost head coach Stuart Lancaster and others their jobs while Burgess returned to rugby league in Australia with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

And in a thread on his Twitter account after former England assistant coach Andy Farrell was named future Ireland head coach, the 29-year-old Burgess has given his views on 2015.

“I seem to be getting a few tweets regarding the Rugby WC in 2015…. still,” he wrote. “If people actually re-watched the games I participated in you will see I added to the team.

“What cost us an early exit was individual egos and selfish players not following our leader, which essentially cost the coach and other great men their jobs.

“Tournaments are not won by the coaching staff or one player. It takes a commitment from the full group. I guarantee you this, I was committed but others had their own agendas.”

He added: “One day I will tell my side of the story but for now I love watching England and cannot wait to see them as they prepare for the 2019 WC in Japan.”