FREDDIE Burns is loving life in the Japanese second tier after leaving behind the turmoil in the English game. The 33-year-old joined Japan Rugby League One – Division 2 side Toyota Shoki Shuttles from Super Rugby side the Highlanders last summer, having felt the English club game is suffering due to a lack of opportunities and decreased finances.
Burns was offered a one-year contract extension at Leicester, the club he drop kicked to Premiership glory in 2022, but opted for a two-year deal in Japan to return to the Shuttles after a previous spell in 2020-21.
“It’s not the same standard as I’ve played in before compared to Premiership, Champions Cup or Super Rugby but it’s like a purer form of the game that’s not overly analysed,” Burns told The Rugby Paper. “Similar to the Premiership was 10 years ago, it’s more free flowing with emphasis on the attack but defences aren’t up to the same standard as some of the top leagues.
“The game in England is a mess. It’s a great league in terms of the play but speaking to my agent recently about contracts I found out the mass problems with contracts and financial difficulties within England at the minute. I loved my time at Tigers, I’d do anything to play for them again but at my age to be offered a two-year deal here and have that security of an extra year really enticed me.”
Burns endured a difficult time at Bath from 2017-2020, where he was infamously known for celebrating too early and dropping the ball over the line late on in a Champions Cup fixture against Toulouse which subsequently knocked his side out of Europe.
Esta historia es de la edición February 25, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February 25, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Edwards gives Gatland a little to think about
A TERRIFIC effort from Ospreys should have seen victory and it was rough justice that high-flying Cardiff escaped with an undeserved draw.
Cowan-Dickie: I'm back and buzzing
LUKE Cowan-Dickie's journey back to the pinnacle of rugby is nothing short of extraordinary.
Clow keeps Rams in touch at the top
RAMS inward approach is paying dividends with the club involved in another title race thanks in part to free scoring flyer Zachary Clow.
Powell powers over to take Quins home
PLAYMAKER Kayleigh Powell powered past four defenders to score the eighth Harlequins try and narrowly edge out a spirited Trailfinders side to secure a late comeback win in a 15-try derby thriller.
Hathaway can follow Zam Skivington
GEORGE Skivington has backed Josh Hathaway to continue to go from strength to strength as the young winger attempts to follow in the slipstream of Louis Rees-Zammit and be a big hit for club and country.
Hybrid Hash will tie Borthwick in knots
THE description 'Hybrid Central Contracts' does not inspire confidence. Hybrid usually means a bit of this, and a bit of that — and 'Hybrid Hash' would be a more apt term for the RFU contracts given to 17 England players just before the autumn series slump.
Quins leave it late to power past Falcons
MARCUS Smith showed his class on Friday night, being an imperious creator and finisher as Harlequins romped to an emphatic five-try victory on Tyneside.
We need to see a complete shake-up
A NEW year and change is on the way across many aspects of the game, not least with the possibility of an SGM creating a complete change at the RFU.
Cool McBryde steals it for RGC
BILLY McBryde held his nerve to land a last kick of the match conversion to snatch a stunning 4139 win for RGC over leaders Ebbw Vale at Parc Eirias.
Century of highs for La Rochelle
AN IMPRESSIVE milestone at Stade Marcel Deflandre was reached last night, where La Rochelle hosted their 100th sell-out match in a row – either side of the period of pandemic restrictions – a run stretching back to January 2, 2016.
