England Player Profiles

Freddie Burns

Key Facts

Squad	Gloucester Rugby
Position	Fly half
Age	23
Height	1.88m (6'2")
Weight	80kg (12st 8lb)
Caps	1 Test appearance

Agreeing a new two-year contract with Gloucester in January last year secured the future of Freddie Burns at Kingsholm until the end of the 2013-14 season. His Test debut against the All Blacks last November will go down in the annals, especially as he contributed two penalty goals from two attempts to the 38-21 win and showed calm authority in 15-minute tenure off the bench for Owen Farrell.

Freddie was unavailable for the start of the 2013 RBS 6 Nations Championship because of medial ligament damage to his left knee and was an unused bench replacement for the Italy match at Twickenham in March.

He had played seven times for the England U20 side in 2010 and contributed three tries, two against Ireland and one in the third place play-off final against South Africa during the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina.

After spending his formative years with Bath from 2005-07, he graduated to Gloucester’s senior squad from the academy at Kingsholm, made his debut at Bath. By mid March this year, he had appeared for Gloucester 93 times overall and accrued 773 points, comprising 14 tries, 101 conversions, 162 penalty goals and four dropped goals. Last season he played in all 22 Premiership matches and amassed 193 points.

His best haul in a match in the competition so far was 26 from a try, six conversions and three penalty goals against Sale Sharks in October 2011. Last July, he was a pivotal figure when leading Gloucester to success in their regional round of the J.P. Morgan Premiership 7s at Kingsholm before sustaining a knee injury in the 24-17 win over Bath.

Educated at Beechen Cliff School and City of Bath College, Freddie began playing when five at Avon RFC. He has spent time on loan at Cinderford, captained Gloucester A and cites the match against the Australia XV at Kingsholm in November 2010, when he scored a try, as his most memorable game.

Bath-born Freddie had already bagged a try and kicked two penalty goals for England U18 against Wales in March 2008 and excelled that summer on tour in South America.

The players he most admires are his former Gloucester teammate Carlos Spencer and Jonny Wilkinson. His favourite ground is Shaft Road, where Oldfield Old Boys play in his home city.