Highlanders sign former England No 10 Freddie Burns for Super Rugby Pacific

The Highlanders have landed five-cap England No 10 Freddie Burns from English champions Leicester after a recommendation for new coaching mentor Chris Boyd.

Burns, 32, has joined for Super Rugby Pacific as an injury replacement after the Highlanders lost young prop Luca Inch for the season and he will compete with Mitch Hunt, Marty Banks and Cam Millar for game time at No 10.

Burns, who played the All Blacks three times during his short test career, kicked the winning drop goal in the English Premiership final against Saracens last year and comes recommended by Boyd, who spent the past four years in the UK with Northampton.

Highlanders coach Clarke Dermody is desperate to avoid a repeat of last year when Sam Gilbert and Vilimoni Koroi were used as No 10 options.

[Source: NZ Herald]