Freddie Burns, the former fly-half for Gloucester, Leicester, and England, is set to retire from professional rugby after an 18-year career. Burns, who will play one more season with Dinamo Bucharest, announced his departure from the sport via social media, continuing his trend of being an outspoken character in a sport often perceived as reserved.
Recalling his Test debut in 2012, Burns vividly remembers kicking two penalties as England secured a significant 38-21 victory over the then-world champions, New Zealand. However, his celebratory evening took an unexpected turn. "All I remember from that night was being hammered when I went up to collect my England cap at the post-match function at Twickenham," Burns stated. He described being intoxicated and waking up in the training ground's bathroom. "I woke up on the floor of the bathroom in my room at Pennyhill. It had a heated floor and there was a lovely little pile of sick cooking next to me. I was still wearing my suit."
Burns, who earned five caps for England, also became a cult hero at Leicester, notably kicking the last-gasp drop-goal that secured the Premiership title in 2022. Reflecting on his career, he expressed gratitude for the opportunities and caps he received, rather than dwelling on those he did not achieve. "I could have played more for England. But I want to be grateful for the five caps I got, not the ones I didn’t. It was five more than most people get," he said.
Despite his successes, Burns acknowledged career lows, including a moment in 2018 during a match for Bath against Toulouse. He celebrated what he believed was a try prematurely, only to have the ball knocked out of his hand by Maxime Medard. "The thing I’m most proud of in my career is my resilience," Burns commented, noting that the incident taught him a valuable lesson. He also touched upon the pressures of public scrutiny, mentioning cameras in his face and online criticism following the incident.
Burns plans to continue playing for one more season in Romania before concluding his professional rugby journey. He expressed a desire for younger players to savor their victories and enjoy the camaraderie of the sport. "When you have a good win, sit in the changing room with your mates you’ve gone to battle with. Enjoy having a drink or two. Share time with the opposition. It all goes by so quick," he advised.
Looking back, Burns hopes to be remembered not just for his on-field performances, but for his character. "I don’t really care what people thought of me as a player. People will think I’m good, bad and indifferent. But I’d always like to think that when my name comes out of someone’s mouth, they’d say I was a good bloke. If that’s all I’m remembered for, then I’ll be happy."