THIRTY years ago Paul Burke was captaining Epsom College as well as playing fly-half for the England Schools 18 Group so there is an element of life turning full circle now that he is back as director of rugby at the Surrey school who continue to punch well above their weight on one of the toughest of circuits.
In between times he enjoyed a distinguished career that straddled the amateur and professional eras with spells at Loughborough University, London Irish, Munster, Bristol, Cardiff, Harlequins and finally Leicester Tigers where he also served as assistant coach to Richard Cockerill. There were also 13 caps for Ireland during which he clocked up 108 points.
Burke returned to Epsom in 2015 and took over the role of director of rugby in 2016 and, in the last two seasons in particular, Epsom have begun to flex their muscles impressively, reaching the final of the Champions Cup in 2018, when they lost a spectacular game against Wellington College 24-16, and then reaching the semi-final last season when Wellington again accounted for them in a fine encounter. They are beginning to keep very good company indeed.
Burke is also in an ideal position to compare the two eras of schoolboy rugby, separated by three decades: “I’m in awe at the overall quality of schools rugby at present, there are so many outstanding teams, being trained and coached at the highest level.
この記事は The Rugby Paper の August 16, 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Rugby Paper の August 16, 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
