Billy Sean Burns (born 13 June 1994) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays for Shimizu Blue Sharks, having previously played for Gloucester, Ulster and Munster. His favoured position is fly-half. He is the younger brother of England fly-half Freddie Burns. Born in England, Burns represented England for youth rugby union teams, before choosing to represent Ireland at the 2020 Six Nations Championship
Early life and family Burns was born and raised in Bath, Somerset, the youngest of four sons of Jerry Burns, the director of a plumbing company, and his wife Donna.About Us, Roman Rod Plumbing and Drain Clearance He attended Beechen Cliff School where he first started playing rugby union, and studied at Hartpury College.
Club career Gloucester A product of Gloucester Rugby's academy, Burns made his first team debut as a seventeen-year-old substitute in a loss to London Irish in the LV Cup in February 2012. That year, he would also have success for the England Under 18 side, winning the European Championships held in Spain, scoring 7 points in the final against Ireland which England won 25 – 13.
He had two loan spells at Hartpury College. In his first spell, in the 2012–13 season, he made 17 appearances in National League 2 South, scoring 71 points which included 6 tries, helping the club to 3rd place in the division. He also made several appearances for Gloucester that season in the LV Cup, and was part of the sevens side that won the 2013 Premiership Rugby Sevens Series in the summer, scoring a conversion in the final victory against Leicester Tigers. The following season he signed a new contract with Gloucester, and made debut appearances in the Heineken Cup and Aviva Premiership, but most of the season was spent back on loan at Hartpury College, helping the club to win the 2013–14 National League 2 South league title and promotion to National League 1, and being one of the league's top points scorers with 205 points. He was also called up by the England Under-20 team for the Six Nations. In the summer he played a key role in England Under-20s victory at the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship held in New Zealand, scoring 11 points as England triumphed 21 – 20 over South Africa in the final.
The following season Burns got more game time at Gloucester, accumulating 17 appearances across all competitions and making the bench for the side that won the 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup. In 2015–16 he made appearances at fly-half and full-back, before sustaining a knee injury against Wasps in March 2016, which ended his season. He was Gloucester's first choice fly-half for the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons, but after the club signed Danny Cipriani, Burns asked to be released from the last year of his contract.
Ulster Burns joined Ulster on a two-year contract in July 2018. Ulster were short of an experienced fly-half following the retirement of Ian Humphreys"Ulster's Ian Humphreys: My body says it's time to quit", Belfast Telegraph, 9 March 2016 and the termination of Paddy Jackson's contract."Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding's contracts revoked", BBC News, 14 April 2018 After Christian Lealiifano's loan deal ended,"Christian Lealiifano Dashes Hopes Of A Contract Extension With Ulster" , Pundit Arena, 22 November 2017 Ulster's only recognised fly-half was Johnny McPhillips. Their attempt to sign Elton Jantjies as a long-term replacement was blocked by the IRFU, who required them to sign an Irish-qualified player."IRFU block Ulster move for South Africa fly-half Elton Jantjies", BBC Sport, 22 May 2018 Burns, who has an Irish grandfather, fit the bill.Gerry Thornley, "Sibling rivalry driving younger Ulster Burns to aim for next level", The Irish Times, 20 January 2020
In the 2018–19 season Burns made 17 appearances in the Pro14, scoring 44 points,Billy Burns' profile at Pro14Rugby and seven appearances in the Heineken Cup, scoring 10 points.Billy Burns' Heineken Cup profile, European Professional Club Rugby] In the 2019–20 season he made 9 appearances in the Pro14, scoring 19 points, and 7 appearances in the Heineken Cup, scoring 6 points. In November 2019, having established himself in the Ulster team and formed a strong half-back partnership with John Cooney, he agreed a renewed contract until June 2022. In 2020–21 he made ten appearances and scored four tries,Ulster 2020–21 – Who Did What?, The Front Row Union, 12 August 2021 sharing time with former Ireland international Ian Madigan."The Ulster depth chart: A World Cup winner and the thrilling back three", The42, 17 September 2021 He re-established himself as first choice in the 2021–22 season, playing almost every game. He made his 100th appearance for Ulster against Glasgow Warriors in November 2023."McNabney To Make Debut In Much-Changed Ulster Side", Irish Rugby, 24 November 2023 He left Ulster At the end of the 2023–24 season, signing a one-year contract with Munster.Shane Donovan, "Confirmed: Ulster out-half Billy Burns seals Munster move", irish Examiner, 19 March 2023
International career Burns is Irish-qualified by virtue of his paternal grandfather, Tommy, who was born in Dublin. He received his first cap in a victory against Wales in the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup, coming off the bench to replace an injured Johnny Sexton in the first half, only to be taken off for a head injury assessment in the second.Michael Glennon, Murray a 'genuine option' at out-half against England, RTÉ, 14 November 2020 He made a second substitute appearance in a defeat against England, replacing Ross Byrne,Simon Thomas, England 18–7 Ireland: Jonny May scores superb try double as warning sent to Wales, Wales Online, 21 November 2020 before making his first international start and scoring his first international try in a win against Georgia.Michael Morrow, Ireland 23–10 Georgia: Irish secure second place in Autumn Nations Cup Group A, BBC, 29 November 2020. He was named in the Ireland squad for the 2021 Six Nations tournament and came on as a replacement in the 21–16 defeat to Wales at the Millennium Stadium.Ireland Squad Named For Guinness Six Nations, IRFU, 25 January 2021 In the dying moments of the game he attempted to kick a penalty to touch, which could have given Ireland a chance to score a potentially match-winning try from the resulting lineout, but kicked it dead, allowing Wales to hold on to win."Billy Burns using 'devastating' missed kick against Wales as 'driving force'", BBC Sport, 23 April 2021 Johnny Sexton, the player he replaced, said "Sometimes you miss and sometimes you get it and you're the hero but he had to go for it.""6N: Wales veterans overcome 14-man Ireland 21–16", AP News, 7 February 2021 Burns started the following match, a narrow defeat against France,Michael Morrow, "Ireland 13–15 France: France make it two out of two while Ireland remain without a win", BBC Sport, 14 February 2021 appeared as a replacement in the following win against Italy,Johnny Watterson, "Italy 10 Ireland 48: Ireland player ratings" The Irish Times, 27 February 2021 and was an unused substitute in the win against Scotland."Scotland 24–27 Ireland", Scottish Rugby, 14 March 2021
Club honours Gloucester Premiership Rugby Sevens Series: 2013 European Rugby Challenge Cup winners: 2014–15
Hartpury College National Division Two South champions: 2013–14
International honours England (U18) European U18 Championship winners: 2012
England (U20) World Rugby Under 20 Championship winners: 2014
References
External links Ulster Rugby profile United Rugby Championship profile
Ireland profile Gloucester profile