FORMER Bradford Bulls star Sam Burgess has said he will appeal the decision after being found guilty of intimidating his estranged wife's father in Australia.

Burgess, who played 88 times for the Bulls before signing for South Sydney Rabbitohs, was handed a two year community order by magistrates in New South Wales for the offence.

He was found guilty by magistrates at Moss Vale Local Court on Friday morning for intimidating his father-in-law Mitchell Hooke at his home in October 2019, with the intention of causing him physical and mental harm.

Magistrate Robert Rabbidge said Burgess walked over to Mr Hooke during the argument, pointed his finger at him from “1.5 metres to two metres” away and yelled, “You’re a f***ing piece of shit, I’m going to get you."

He said Burgess’ “angry, aggressive conduct” would have had greater impact due to his imposing 6ft 5ins height and 18st, muscular physique.

“An enraged Sam Burgess would be a frightening figure for any Australian,” Magistrate Rabbidge said.

“This was a terrifying experience for Phoebe Burgess [his ex-wife] and her dad,” Magistrate Rabbidge said.

Following the hearing, Burgess said they would be appealing the decision, and that it had left him "confused".

The community order bans Burgess from going within half a mile of anywhere Mr Hooke lives or works for the next two years.

After debuting for Bradford as teenager, Burgess moved Down Under aged 21, already a Great Britain international. 

He made more than 180 appearances for the Rabbitohs in Australia's National Rugby League, winning the competition in 2014.

He also won man of the match in the 2014 Grand Final after fracturing his cheekbone after just five seconds in the first tackle of the game, but played the whole 80 minutes at loose forward.

He also switched codes to rugby union, signing for Bath and representing England in their disastrous 2015 Rugby Union World Cup campaign on home soil.

He retired in October 2019 due to chronic shoulder injuries, the same month he intimidated Mr Hooke.