RUMOUR | Favourite to sign Freddie Burns from Bath revealed
Transfer RumoursMonday, 02 March 2020 at 09:24
Freddie Burns is set to depart Bath Rugby at the end of the season, according to The Rugby Paper.
The 29-year-old has made the decision after struggling to get a starting place in Stuart Hooper's side with Rhys Priestland continuing as first choice fly-half.
There is significant interest from Top 14 side Lyon and a move to the French side would offer Burns something different, plus solves the Top 14 sides’ search for an international level 10.
There are also rumours the former England international could make a shock move to Japan or try his hand at Super Rugby with 'offers on the table'.
Closer to home Wasps have been linked with the 29-year-old.
Burns returned to Bath Rugby, where he started his career in the Academy, for the 2017/18 season. The fly-half joined from Leicester Tigers where he had scored over 500 points in his three seasons in the East Midlands.
The former Beechen Cliff School pupil has won five caps for England, with his debut coming in a 38-21 victory against New Zealand in December 2012.
Bath’s greatest players: Is this Bath’s greatest all-time XV?
Bath’s greatest ever XV is often debated among fans, it’s a very difficult one as the club has had numerous legends take to the field at the Rec.
Obviously, this is a matter of perspective, there’s no scientific formula for the undisputed 15, but this is pretty close to it.
Fullback: MATT PERRY
Matt Perry is a man who Bath Rugby supporters will remember with fondness for eternity.
He proudly won 36 caps for England, three for the Lions in Australia in 2001, and made an eye watering 221 appearances scoring 561 points for Bath Rugby between 1995 and his enforced retirement in 2007, at that point the Club’s longest serving player.Embed from Getty Images
Winger: DAVID TRICK
Trick was arguably the fastest player in Bath's history, having run 10.4secs for 100m.
The laid-back winger who thrilled the fans on the flowerpots side of the Rec, scored 143 tries in only 225 1st XV games.
The speedster, an England international, is currently enjoying his second spell as club president.
Outside-centre: JEREMY GUSCOTT
Guscott came through Bath's youth system as a fly-half, before Jack Rowell moved him to outside centre, where he became a star for Bath, England and the British & Irish Lions.
Guscott made 268 1st XV appearances for Bath and won 65 England caps, scoring 30 Red Rose tries. The man known as the 'Prince of Centres' famously dropped a goal for the Lions to win the 1997 series in South AfricaEmbed from Getty Images
Inside-centre: PHIL DE GLANVILLE
De Glanville joined Bath in 1989 and captained them to a league and cup double in 1996, partnering Jeremy Guscott in the centre for this club that season, as well as many others. He played 189 times for Bath over a 12-year career, scoring 53 tries.
He also started for Bath in the victorious 1998 Heineken Cup Final as they defeated Brive.
DID YOU KNOW: Chiding his renowned good-looks, teammates often referred to De Glanville as "Hollywood"
Winger: TONY SWIFT
At 5ft 10ins and 12st 4lbs, Swift would be diminutive in the modern game. But the winger signed from Swansea in 1985 was a lethal finisher with fantastic footwork.
In only 236 matches he amassed a try tally that is unlikely ever to be beaten at the club. Swift played six times for England and was Bath's first chairman of the professional era.Embed from Getty Images
Fly-half: STUART BARNES
His full Club record: – A total of 196 appearances 53 tries, 313 conversions, 22 drop goals and 230 penalties, thereby amassing total points of 1604.
In a brilliant partnership with Richard Hill, Barnes proved to be the master of taking and giving of near flat passes, and introduced a superior brand of tactical awareness. Orchestrated by the coaching staff, it was to revolutionize Bath’s style of play and lead to a run of Cup and League success.Embed from Getty Images
Scrum-half: RICHARD HILL
Arguably the finest scrum-half to wear the blue, black and white jersey of Bath, Richard Hill entertained the Recreation Ground faithful for more than a decade raising the boundaries of scrumhalf play to new levels.
Richard won 29 international caps for England, including captaincy, but during an illustrious career with Bath, he won numerous League and Cup medals, demonstrating his undoubted skills as a world-class performer.
Richard was nicknamed “Duracell” by his teammates due to both his copper coloured ‘top’ and his reputation for keeping going when teammates ‘batteries’ were just about expended.
DID YOU KNOW: During the amateur era of the game he worked at Lloyds bank.
Prop: DAVID FLATMAN
He moved to Bath from Saracens in 2003, where he proved himself to be one of the finest front rows forwards in the world with his sterling performances in a revamped blue, black and whites pack.
When Flatman eventually hung up his boots for a media career in 2012, he had firmly established himself as a fan favourite at the Rec, making 161 appearances for Bath, scoring a single try.
DID YOU KNOW: He appeared in the same England Schools (18-group) squad as Steve Borthwick, Andrew Sheridan (also of Dulwich College), Alex Sanderson, Mike Tindall and Jonny Wilkinson.
Hooker: LEE MEARS
Known for his dynamic performances around the field, as well as his excellent basics, the hard-working Lee Mears was one of the most popular players in the game.
He established himself as the club’s first-choice hooker during the 2005/06 season he went on to forge a reputation as one of the finest hookers in the northern hemisphere, cementing his place in the England squad and regularly performing at the highest level in the Premiership and Heineken Cup.
He then became a Test Lion when he started the series opener against South Africa in June 2009.Embed from Getty Images
Prop: GARETH CHILCOTT
The former Bath, England and British Lions player has always been recognised as one of the game’s true characters.
When in full attack, his famed headband and trademark moustache, coupled with his fearsome visage were never calculated to put his opponents at ease.
Always giving the game 110 per cent, he gained respect both in this country and abroad.Embed from Getty Images
Lock: DANNY GREWCOCK
When looking for a legendary Bath Rugby lock to speak to, now Bath Rugby Academy Director Danny Grewcock seemed an obvious choice.
The British and Irish Lion, and England international enjoyed a fantastic career at the Rec, weighing in with 229 appearances over ten years, and was one of the most highly regarded players in the game.
Since his retirement in 2010, Danny has taken up a back room role, and is now in charge of marshalling the next generation of talent to come through the ranks at the Club as Academy Director, and secure the long term legacy of the playing squad.Embed from Getty Images
Lock: STEVE BORTHWICK
Flanker: JOHN HALL
Hall is Bath's most prolific forward of all time in terms of tries. Blessed with tremendous pace in his early career, the flanker was equally at home in the open spaces as he was dotting down from close range.
Former skipper Hall made 277 appearances for Bath and won 21 England caps. He would have won more had he not been hampered by knee injuries.Embed from Getty Images
Flanker: ANDY ROBINSON
Number 8: DAN LYLE
Former US Eagles Captain Dan Lyle first appeared in a Bath first team shirt as a replacement in the 76-7 victory over local rivals Bristol in October 1996, having signed for Bath from OMBAC in San Diego. Lyle, who captained Bath in 2001/2002, went on to make over 120 appearances for the club and in seven seasons had scored twenty-four tries.Embed from Getty Images
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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