SAS Australia winner Sam Burgess strips off to reveal weight loss

SAS Australia winner Sam Burgess has stripped off to reveal exactly what the gruelling show did to his body – including 8.5kg weight loss.

SAS Australia winner Sam Burgess has stripped off to reveal the massive 8.5kg weight loss he underwent while taking part in the gruelling show, which was filmed over two weeks earlier this year.

The former rugby league player, 32, stripped to his underwear for an Instagram post shared after Wednesday night’s SAS reunion show.

He revealed he’d taken the photo one day after he was deemed the season’s winner, and was “minus 8.5kg down”.

“Safe to say I’ve managed to put a few kgs back on,” he said.

Sam Burgess the night after his SAS Australia win.

“What a ride – thanks for your overwhelming support.”

Burgess was paid a reported $150,000 to $200,000 to appear on the show – more than double what most of the other celebs had earned. He was joined in Tuesday’s final episode by dual Olympian Jana Pittman, Olympic medallist John Steffensen, Home And Away actor Dan Ewing and tennis legend Mark Philippoussis.

But Burgess emerged victorious, the only celeb deemed to have passed ‘SAS selection’. It came after a tumultuous time for the former South Sydney player, who went through a messy public break-up with wife Phoebe that saw explosive drug and domestic violence allegations levelled at the footballer last year. Burgess strenuously denied the claims.

A bulkier Burgess before he started on the show. Picture: Jeremy Grieve

In May, Sam pleaded guilty to three driving charges following a February 22 police traffic stop where he tested positive for cocaine. He landed two $581 fines and was ordered to complete a traffic offenders program.

Burgess opened up about his personal problems during an interrogation scene early in the season, telling the instructors: “I’ve lost my career, my kids and marriage … there was a police investigation into me. Turned to drinking, drugs. I’ve lost it all.”

Sam has since revealed he has stopped drinking completely in an attempt to change his life for the better.

Meanwhile, fellow SAS finalist Jana Pittman lifted the lid on one of the show’s most cringe-worthy scenes, in which viewers were shown Dan Ewing concocting a random story to tell the captors during one of the final challenges, as opposed to his fellow contestants who all spoke honestly.

Pittman, who just missed out on passing the course, told 2DayFM’s The Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed and Erin that all recruits were told to recite the same fabricated story – but only Ewing’s made it to air.

She also said Ewing was “pretty upset” about his portrayal on the show.

Originally published as SAS Australia winner Sam Burgess strips off to reveal weight loss