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Viral pic of rugby league icon Sam Burgess photo reveals what’s changed

A new image of rugby league icon Sam Burgess is getting attention online and it’s all because of one small detail.

Monday, May 20 | Top stories | From the Newsroom

A striking photo of former NRL player Sam Burgess has been posted on social media, showing he has gone entirely grey.

Burgess’s fiancée and former hairdresser Lucy Graham posted a series of snaps of the former South Sydney player holding the couple’s daughter Robbie on, of course, a football field.

The ex-Rabbitohs star turned coach was all smiles as he posed with his young family, and Lucy added a supportive caption alongside the photos.

“We’re off to Wembley!!! So proud of you and the boys,” she wrote.

The image was eye-catching because Burgess, who has been going grey for a while now, is in full silver fox mode.

Lucy posted this photo of Sam and their daughter on Instagram. Picture: Instagram/LucyGraham
Lucy posted this photo of Sam and their daughter on Instagram. Picture: Instagram/LucyGraham
Lucy shared she was proud of Sam for his team's win. Picture: Instagram/LucyGraham
Lucy shared she was proud of Sam for his team's win. Picture: Instagram/LucyGraham

Burgess, who has now gone full George Clooney, is thriving as head coach of UK rugby league team the Warrington Wolves. The team is now headed to Wembley Stadium for the Challenge Cup final.

It’s a win for Burgess because it is his first season coaching the team. He was appointed the position in August 2023 and is already leading the side to victory.

Football aside, though, plenty of fans just wanted to talk about the fact that Burgess, who used to be brunette, had gone grey.

“He has gone grey early,” one remarked.

“He looks fantastic,” another complimented.

While another sad going grey made him look like an “old man” and someone else remarked on how “happy” he looked.

Sam's been going grey for awhile. Picture: Instagram/LucyGraham
Sam's been going grey for awhile. Picture: Instagram/LucyGraham
The young family look happy together. Picture: Instagram/LucyGraham
The young family look happy together. Picture: Instagram/LucyGraham

The hair was not being ignored, though, Burgess is no stranger to making headlines and getting attention.

In 2019, his marriage dissolved with his ex-wife, Phoebe, with whom he shares two children, Poppy and Billy.

In 2021, Burgess appeared on the Aussie reality show SAS Australia in 2021, where he opened up about the breakdown of his marriage.

He admitted on the show that he wasn’t the “greatest husband at times” and said he had “embarrassed” his ex-wife.

“I embarrassed my wife. I’d had an affair with a girl, a woman in Melbourne. That’s true. I was away on tour, and regretfully that happened. Which would have been … it would have been a tough place for Phoebe to be,” he said.

He ended up winning SAS Australia in 2021. He started dating Lucy in 2022, the couple announced she was pregnant in March 2023 and the pair got engaged in June 2023.

Originally published as Viral pic of rugby league icon Sam Burgess photo reveals what’s changed

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby/sam-burgess-photo-reveals-whats-changed/news-story/e55be6302858e32f23593017d52ede75