Leicester Tigers have added a familiar face to their coaching staff as they gear up for the upcoming PREM Rugby season. Former fly-half Freddie Burns has come onboard joining Geoff Parling's coaching team at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. This appointment follows shortly after Burns ended his illustrious playing career, which included a recent stint as player-coach with Romanian team Dinamo București.
Burns is slated to guide the team's kickers, leveraging his extensive experience both from his time playing at clubs like Gloucester, Bath, Highlanders, and Toyota Industries Shuttles, and from his tenure in international rugby, earning five caps for England. Notably, Burns is revered in Leicester for his decisive drop-goal in the 2022 PREM final during his second spell with the team, part of his 114 appearances for the Tigers.
"I’m very excited to begin my coaching journey with Tigers. It’s a club I care deeply about and I’m excited to help try and get the best out of this group that has huge potential."
Burns expressed his enthusiasm about returning to a place he holds in high regard, emphasizing his eagerness to contribute to the team from a coaching perspective. His previous experience as a player-coach will undoubtedly aid him in this new role.
"I’ve had a brilliant career in terms of where I’ve been able to play the game around the world, nothing comes close to this place though."
"I’m really excited to get to work and be back at Oval Park. Being here on matchdays will be brilliant, I can’t wait," added Burns, highlighting his anticipation for the live game atmosphere at Welford Road.
Leicester's head coach, Geoff Parling, also shared his thoughts on welcoming Burns to the coaching staff. He emphasized Burns' readiness to transition into coaching full-time and his ability to enrich the team's environment.
"He will work with our kickers in both the first team and academy and is hungry to pass on what he’s learned across a distinguished playing career. He’s also a good person to be around, and someone that wants to add value to the environment."
The arrival of Burns to the coaching team coincides with the departure of Alex Davies, who has moved on to join Wales. With these changes, Leicester Tigers are poised to embark on a potentially transformative season with a blend of seasoned insights and fresh energy.
As the new season approaches, keep an eye on how these shifts within the coaching ranks influence the team's performance on the field. With experienced figures like Burns stepping in, Leicester Tigers are gearing up for what could be a thrilling rugby campaign.
