Highlanders recruit Burns eager to play alongside 'some of the world's best'

Highlanders recruit Freddie Burns is looking forward to playing alongside some of the “world’s best players” in Super Rugby Pacific this year.

The former England flyhalf signed from Leicester Tigers, and will be available for his new club in time for the opening round of the new campaign.

While the Highlanders’ decision to sign Burns may have raised a few eyebrows in the Southern Hemisphere, there’s no doubting the experience he’ll bring to the team.

Burns played more than 110 games for Leicester over the course of his career, which included a last-minute drop goal against Saracens in last year’s Premiership final.

The 32-year-old is set to run out alongside the likes of Aaron Smith, Vilimoni Koroi and Jona Nareki this season.

“It’s a five a month contract so I’m just going to get there, literally jump in headfirst into the culture, into the rugby, and just see where it gets me,” Burns told RugbyPass Offload.

“I’m lucky as well because obviously preseason games start next weekend so I’ll literally land and it’ll be straight into games so I’ve not got that preseason to go through.

“Hop in, jump in, give it my all, play with some of the world’s best players.

“They’ve got such an exciting, young backline. It’s going to be exciting to be a part of.”

Super Rugby Pacific is set to get underway in just a few weeks, with a New Zealand derby between the champion Crusaders and Chiefs opening the season.

As for Burns’ Highlanders, they’ll begin their campaign on February 25 against the Blues at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium.