Far East life rekindles Freddie’s rugby fire
AFTER his career hit an all-time low at Bath, Freddie Burns says playing in Japan’s Second Division helped him grow as a player and a person and move on from his troubled stay at The Rec.
Burns reassessed what was important to him while playing alongside forklift drivers and officer workers for Shokki Shuttles and has come back to England, and a second spell with Leicester, enriched by the experience.
No longer does he fret about player ratings in The Rugby Paper on a Sunday or the views of “some numpty” on social media all too ready to remind him of his howler against Toulouse in the Champions Cup, a moment that, at the time, felt like “the whole world had ended.”
Visiting the places like Hiroshima site and the humble attitude of his teammates has put things into perspective.
“From a growth side both in rugby and out of it, it was an unbelievable experience and one I am over the moon that I took. I have come back a happier, better rugby player,” said the 31-year-old, last capped by England in 2014.
“I needed Japan more than I thought. It really ignited the excitement in me and changed my perspective on life and rugby.
“I feel I have definitely matured. Japan really
made me check my ego a bit. Do I think I have a massive ego? No, I don’t, but I am a professional sportsman who wants to play as much rugby as possible to win but sometimes you have to realise your value could be elsewhere.
“So when you’re playing games, and there’s only a couple of thousand in the crowd, you are not looking at your player ratings in the paper on the Sunday or seeing what some numpty has to say on social media.
“It made me realise the value of rugby to me. The value is working hard with my mates, trying to win and having their respect. Because of that, I let a lot less external pressures affect me.”
Burns copped plenty of flak when he was part of the swap deal that took George Ford to Leicester and Burns to Bath, his hometown club. What should have been a fairytale for the boy from Beechen Cliff School turned into a nightmare – a red card on debut setting the tone for a frustrating time in his life.
Burns believes any chance he had of establishing himself under the then head coach Todd Blackadder
went once Maxime Medard slapped the ball out of his hands over the try line in October 2018.
“I am at peace with everything, even when things ended here at Leicester,” he said. “I don’t say things to try and ruffle feathers. When I’m asked questions I will give an honest answer and that’s all it is. Everything around Bath and how I felt when I left is still how I feel.
“Have I held a grudge towards how it went? Not really. I always wish that whatever club I go to, I am the first-choice 10, I start in every game, we win the Premiership, and I am the world’s best player, but that’s not the way it is sometimes.
“Now I am in a place where I am extremely happy and I think people see that. I enjoy coming to work and getting better.”
Burns did not start a single Premiership game at 10 in his final season at Bath, in 2019/20, and has yet to do so at Leicester. That has everything to do with the imperious form of George Ford, not because he has been frozen out.
When Burns signed for Leicester he sought assurances over his position, whether that was at 10 or 15. Ford’s surprise England snub has led to Burns rotating with Freddie Steward at full-back but the 31-yearold is happy with his lot.
“You do come here thinking the chances are Fordy is going to be away with England but one thing you learn in rugby very quick, plans and things that you expect rarely happen,” he said. “I am disappointed for Fordy because I think he has been outstanding for us and he was world-class at the weekend (in the record win at Saints), and if he keeps playing that way, I am not too sure how long England can ignore him.”
Ford will get a free run for a few weeks after Burns popped a rib against old club Bath in Tigers 40-23 win on Friday.
But Burns says: “When I’m back I’ll just keep on doing what I’m doing and the minute I get that opportunity I’m ready to take it.
“I firmly believe I will get a shot this year at some stage at fly-half but until then I will keep preparing as I do and if Steve (Borthwick) asks me to play full-back, I will play fullback and do it to the best of my ability. I am happy just being on the pitch.”
Patience is a virtue he learnt in Japan, mostly due to the language barrier and the culture. “There were a few comical moments that will stay with me forever,” he said. “You can’t have the split-second conversations, to call, say, a switch. And at the start I thought they (his teammates) were calling me Harry but they were actually asking me for the ball early!
“The whole experience teaches you to practice patience.”