Breaking news from Rugby Pass indicates that Saracens are on the brink of securing a deal for the highly-touted Crusaders fly-half, Fergus Burke.
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This move is seen as a strategic manoeuvre by Saracens’ head coach Mark McCall, who aims to fill the void left by former England skipper Owen Farrell.
Burke, aged 24, has been a target of interest since earlier this year, with Scottish Rugby making a substantial offer to lure him to Glasgow Warriors, with the added incentive of a switch in international allegiances to Scotland. Having been part of the Crusaders setup since 2018, Burke now finds himself in prime position to step into the pivotal number 10 jersey following Richie Mo’unga’s departure.
In a bid to bolster their ranks, McCall has also set his sights on Newcastle Falcons prodigy Louie Johnson. Reports suggest that negotiations for Burke are nearing completion despite the player currently sidelined with an Achilles injury.
Meanwhile, Johnson has been making waves in English rugby circles, particularly after his standout performance for the Falcons A-Team against England Under-20s in the 2020-21 season. His meteoric rise saw him debut for the Falcons’ first team in March 2022, making an instant impact with a sensational solo try in a Premiership Rugby Cup clash against Northampton.
Johnson’s stellar form continued throughout the 2022-23 season, where he showcased his nerves of steel by slotting the winning conversion in a nail-biting encounter against Leicester.
Such performances have earned him recognition at the international level, with regular call-ups to the England Under-20s squad, culminating in selection for the tour of Georgia and subsequent participation in the World Cup in South Africa.
THREE PLAYERS BORTHWICK SHOULD CALL-UP THIS SUMMER:
England and the Brave Blossoms will face off in their first ever test hosted in Tokyo, Japan this year in the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup on Saturday, 22 June 2024. The two nations have played three Test matches against one another but this will be the first time Japan has the home field advantage.
The Roses will then face New Zealand in Dunedin on July 6 and at Eden Park a week later. Two mouthwatering occasions not to be missed as England will seek to beat last year’s Rugby World Cup runner-up.
Below, we look at three players Borthwick should call-up.
#1. Cadan Murley
Harlequins’ winger Murley burst onto the scene in 2018, swiftly solidifying his place in the Premiership club’s starting lineup. Since then, he’s been an integral part of the team, notably contributing to their triumph in the 2021 Gallagher Premiership.
Despite being just 24 years old, Murley boasts an impressive 106 appearances for his club, with 48 tries to his name. A striking average of 0.5 tries per game cements his status as one of the most lethal wingers in global club rugby.
Murley’s talent was evident early on when he represented England at the U18 level in 2017, showcasing his scoring prowess against formidable opponents like France and Ireland. He furthered his international journey by donning the English jersey at the U20s level as well.
Speaking on Murley, Borthwick said: “Cadan Murley has an ability to score tries and find his way to the try line. He can beat defenders in. the smallest space possible, has power to be able to come off both feet, plays at 14 and 11, and then accelerate in such a small space.”