Freddie Burns


Frederick Burns is an English rugby union player who plays fly-half for Japanese side Shokki Shuttles.

Club career

Gloucester

On 6 June 2008 Burns was announced as part of the intake to Gloucester Rugby's academy, joining from Bath Rugby's academy.
On 30 June 2009 Gloucester Rugby announced that Burns was one of a number of academy players to sign senior contracts.
In January 2010 he re-signed with Gloucester, committing himself until the end of the 2011/12 season.
His contract was renewed in the Spring of 2012.
Burns came in for Gloucester in the game against Biarritz Olympique and got a conversion. In the next game he made his first start at fullback at Kingsholm against Australia. In this game he scored a try. In the following match he was once again selected at fullback and he scored two penalties against the Cardiff Blues. However next game Olly Morgan replaced Burns at fullback and Burns made a start at fly-half. Burns then scored all of his club's points with two converted tries. Burns has since played many games at fly-half and fullback, including an April 2010 performance against Saracens. In this game he was named the man of the match as a reward for his outstanding kicking from hand, goal kicking and composure under the high ball. The highlight of this match was when Burns chipped over a rushing Saracen defence allowing Charlie Sharples to score a vital try in the corner.

Leicester

He joined Leicester Tigers at the end of the 2013-14 season.

Bath

On 14 February 2017, Burns signed for hometown club Bath ahead of the 2017-18 season.
In a Champions Cup match on 13 October 2018, a blunder by Burns cost Bath their match against Toulouse. Having got behind the posts, Burns started to celebrate instead of immediately touching down for a try. However, a Toulouse player, Maxime Medard managed to knock the ball out of his hand.

Shokki Shuttles

On 1 May, 2020 it was announced that Burns would leave Bath at the end of his contract to join Japanese side Toyota Jido Shokki.

International career

Burns represented his country at under 20 level and played in the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina in 2010.
Burns represented England Saxons against Ireland and Scotland A, and his form earned him selection into the England EPS squad for the Barbarians game on 27 May 2012.
On 1 December 2012, Burns made his England debut, replacing Owen Farrell during the 38-21 victory over New Zealand, during which he scored his first international points with two penalties.
Burns joined the 2013 England tour and played at number 10 vs Argentina in both tests. He scored two penalties and three out of four conversions in the first game when the team won 32-3, and also scored his first England try. He started the first test against New Zealand at Eden Park in June 2014, kicking 12 points in a 20-15 England loss.

International tries

TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore
1Buenos Aires, ArgentinaEstadio José Amalfitani2013 Summer Internationals15 06 2013Win51 - 26

Personal life

Burns is a former pupil of Beechen Cliff School in Bath. His younger brother Billy Burns, who plays for Ulster, attended the school as well. Burns is of Irish descent through a grandparent.