Clive Churchill Medallist Sam Burgess played a key role in South Sydney’s NRL premiership celebrations on Monday ahead of scheduled surgery for a fractured cheekbone.

Burgess suffered the injury in the opening tackle of the Rabbitohs drought-breaking NRL grand final win over Canterbury on Sunday.

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The rugby-bound backrower will undergo surgery on the injury on Tuesday.

Blue bruising marked the right side of his face, but the England international still sported a massive smile for the estimated 10,000 Rabbitohs fans gathered at Redfern Oval to celebrate their first premiership since 1971.

“I’m so proud of what we have done,” Burgess told Rabbitohs faithful, decked out deliriously in red and green.

“This will stay with me forever, what we have achieved here and the friends I have made.

“But first I have to get this face fixed up.”

Burgess will join English rugby club Bath later this month as he bids to play for England in the rugby world cup next year.

He will leave behind brothers Sam, Thomas and Luke and a legacy as big as John Sattler’s at Redfern.

It is unlikely, but Burgess wouldn’t rule out a return to South Sydney after his time with rugby.

“You never say never,” he said.