Burdon revelling in dream return alongside school skipper Welch
EIGHT years after being released by Newcastle’s academy, Fred Burdon finds himself back among friends having secured a full-time contract at the Falcons until the end of the season.
While former academy team-mates Will Welch and Mark Wilson established themselves as first-team regulars at Kingston Park, Geordie Burdon plied his trade in the Championship at Doncaster and Leeds, via Cambridge University, where he won a Blue, before landing a trial at his home town club.
The 26-year-old centre, named Leeds’ player of the year in 2013-14, admits he never gave up on his Premiership dream, despite suffering two careerthreatening Achilles injuries. Assured displays in a pre-season friendly and two A-League games persuaded Falcons’ director of rugby Dean Richards that he warranted a second chance.
“I was out for a total of 18 months with the Achilles but I never gave up. I gave it my all to get back because I love playing and it’s what I want to do,” he told TRP.
Like fellow triallist and centre, Dom Waldouck, who recently earned himself a deal at Falcons after a short spell in the States, Burdon credits a trip overseas – in his case Australia – for galvanising his career.
“I spent the back half of the Shute Shield season playing for Sydney University,” he explained.
“It came about because of Dan Vickerman, who was my captain at Cambridge. I had the option to go out there when I finished uni but never did so it was always in the back of my mind to go there one day.
“It was awesome. Sydney is a great place to live and I got a heap of rugby, which is just what you need after being out injured for so long, at a great club that plays a style of rugby that allows you to express yourself.”
Burdon landed his trial two days after returning to Newcastle, the club he supported as a kid, due to long-term injuries to Chris Harris and Adam Powell.
“I first started coming down when I was eight years old and Rob Andrew lifted the Premiership trophy,” he said.
“I enjoyed being in the academy here and it has been helpful for me having some of those guys now part of the first team squad.
“Our captain Will Welch was my school captain at Royal Grammar School, it is great to be playing with guys I get on with and ultimately for the team I still support.”