THE BLOOD BROTHERS
They fought as kids... now Burns duo to scrap on pitch
OVER the years they have boxed against each other in the garden and almost come to blows at a go- karting track, so Billy Burns will expect to renew a feisty sibling rivalry at Kingsholm today.
Billy faces older brother Freddie when Gloucester host Bath this afternoon. Freddie is an opponent to be targeted, as part of the home side’s quest for local bragging rights, although for Billy he remains an inspiration.
In a week when Freddie revealed how the Burns clan joined forces to expose an online troll who had been bullying him, Billy said: ‘ We are a tight family who want to look after each other. When it comes to the derby game we’ll keep to ourselves, but he is massively supportive and I’ve learned so much from him.
‘I was so lucky to have him as a role model when I was coming through the academy.’
The pair grew up in Bath, but Billy, illy, the youngest of the Burns boys oys (there are four), has been thriving g as Gloucester’s playmaker. Last weekend kt he scored a solo try against Newcastle to earn a place in the European Challenge Cup final.
If there had been a shadow to emerge from, given Freddie’s rise to international level at a young age, Billy has done just that. Now 23, he is forging his own reputation in the game.
‘The thing that frustrated me e early on was people would say, ay, “Bloody hell, you look the same as Freddie on the pitch”,’ he said. ‘You You want to have your own identity and make a name for yourself. I’m proud to be Freddie’s brother and proud of the things he’s done, but if I can make my own way, that would be great for me.’
Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann has praised the courage shown by Billy in this breakthrough campaign. He is a relatively slight figure but the South African has admired how he has acquitted himself in defence and attack. That is where the competitive streak honed by years of fierce sibling conflict plays a useful part. ‘It’s because I’ve been used to getting beaten up by three older brothers,’ joked Billy, when told of his coach’s admiration.
‘Whatever we did, we competed. We’re still the same now. Last year when it was my birthday, we went gokarting and it almost ended up with us having a fight! We all wanted to win so much. Me and Fred hate losing, even if it’s meant to be a bit of fun. Sometimes we’d get boxing gloves, go in the garden to beat each other up! It’s just the way we’re made up and it’s got us to where we are now.’
Billy represented England at age-group level, and in 2014 wore No 10 as a junior national side captained by Maro Itoje won the Under 20 World Cup in Auckland.
The next day, not far away in Hamilton, Freddie played for the seniors against the All Blacks. ‘It was crazy,’ he said. ‘My dad flew out to New Zealand, got there in time to watch me on the Friday, watched Fred play for England the next day then flew home that night! It was special for the family.’
This afternoon, the Burns clan will grapple with split loyalties again, just hoping the brothers come through a wild-west scrap unscathed, no matter who wins.