NRL registers Sam Burgess contract

The contract of returning Rabbitohs star Sam Burgess has been registered with the NRL, following the departures of Souths players Dylan Walker and Chris McQueen.

The Rabbitohs announced the news on Sunday along with the news of contract extensions for young players Angus Crichton and Hymel Hunt.

Former Australian Schoolboys representative Crichton, 19, will join the Rabbitohs' full-time squad next season and has signed a deal keeping him at the club until 2018.

Outside back Hunt, 22, joins Souths from Melbourne on a one-year deal.

"We're pleased to be adding Hymel to our squad and to be extending the contract of young Angus as well," Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire said.

"Both players have plenty of potential that we'll be looking to develop during this pre-season with the help of the staff and the rest of the boys here in the squad."