Billy Burns is hoping his newly coined nickname at Ulster won't stick
Billy Burns’ move from Gloucester to Ulster came somewhat out of the blue, signing a two-year deal with the Irish club.
Some are already calling him ‘King Billy’ – it was always likely to happen when you sign a player three days before the Orange Order’s July 12th celebrations.
“I don’t know much history about it to be honest with you. We’ve had a few presentations but I’m hoping it doesn’t stick too long.”
The signing caused extra intrigue with the news that Burns is Irish-qualified through his grandfather, who hailed from County Cork, although Burns says he hasn’t spoken to Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt.
“There was an article that was released and almost made it sound like I was coming here just to play for Ireland. First and foremost I’m coming over here because I want to play for Ulster Rugby and push Ulster back up and play well here”, the 24-year-old said.
“Anything else that comes would be great. Obviously, I have ambitions to play international rugby. You probably hear it all the time, but any player at this level has that ambition.
“It was something that I always looked into doing. Obviously, being Irish-qualified it was an avenue which could open for me. It’s as simple as when a club as big as Ulster with the history they’ve got come calling, it’s a hard one to turn down.
“I was probably in a position at Gloucester where I was very comfortable. I just felt that at this stage of my career it was a chance to move on a challenge myself; get thrown in the deep end, not knowing many guys over here and see how I go.”
Continue reading below…
He played 29 times for Gloucester last season, including 24 starts, but once Danny Cipriani’s signature was confirmed did he see the writing on the wall?
“Yes and no. I’m a confident player, I always back my ability and I like to think I could push my way into the side anyway.”
Burns revealed that Director of Rugby David Humphries and Head Coach Johan Ackermann pulled him to the side to inform him of Cipriani’s impending arrival at Kingsholm, just three days after he’d been playing at 10 in the Challenge Cup final in Bilbao.
“Obviously it did surprise me a little bit, but at the same time that’s rugby, that just happens. It was a tough one to take at first, but I always had this…this opportunity was always there and it was one that I was seriously thinking about and it was probably sort of the nail in the coffin, in that it was a good chance to move on and go over here and challenge myself and hopefully come in here and play a lot of rugby.”
But asked by RugbyPass whether he would have stayed at Gloucester if they’d not recruited another outhalf.
“No I don’t think so, I think I still would have ended up over here. I think the only thing was obviously Gloucester letting me go at that stage. They would have only had two outhalves if Danny wasn’t coming, so the chance of me getting let go was probably a bit slimmer. I think it was one of those that almost married together, I would not have been leaving them short in that position and it was something that I really wanted to do and like I said David (Humphries) and Johan (Ackermann) were both great and they let me go.”
Gloucester’s loss is Ulster’s gain and having played over 100 times for the Premiership outfit he feels that those miles on the clock will be hugely advantageous to Ulster in the aftermath of losing Christian Lealiifano and Paddy Jackson.
“I don’t like saying it because it makes me feel a little bit old, I am only 24, but I’ve had a fair bit of experience, albeit playing in a different league, but obviously like you said the likes of Johnny (McPhillipps) and Mike (Lowry), they’re great players but probably lack that little bit of experience so I think that is something that I can hopefully help the side with.
“I am still at a stage where I am still trying to work out what our best style of rugby is and what suits the players around me and hopefully I can be that piece that comes in and knits that all together. Don’t get me wrong it is not going to be down to one man, it is going to be down to a squad, but hopefully like I said, I can come in and we can play a style of rugby that not only excites the fans, but also pushes us up to the next level.”
Burns has never played in Ireland during his career, he’s due to make his Ulster debut on Saturday at Kingspan Stadium – the opponents are Gloucester, naturally, with Danny Cipriani set to be his opposite number. Both will have plenty to prove, Cipriani even more so, whose arrest only came to light after Burns had spoken.
You may also like:
Billy Burns was speaking at the eir sport announcement that its first broadcast, Cardiff Blues v Leinster will be made free to air to celebrate the channel becoming the NEW home of rugby in Ireland.
Comments on RugbyPass
In the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
5 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
6 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
5 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
6 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
6 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to comments