Saracens’ new fly-half Fergus Burke: I am open to playing for England or Scotland

Saracens’ new fly-half Fergus Burke says that he is open to representing England or Scotland having seen several former Kiwi team-mates make a similar jump to international rugby.

Burke has lived all his life in New Zealand and had never set foot in the United Kingdom before last week when he played for the Barbarians in their victory over Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday.

The 24-year-old is both qualified for England, through his mother Julie, and eligible for Scotland, through his grandfather, and despite representing New Zealand at Under-20 level is uncapped at senior level. Taine Plumtree, a team-mate from his Baby Black days, has gone on to represent Wales, while Ethan Roots, who was in the Crusaders academy with Burke, is now touring New Zealand with England.

Those are examples that Burke is open to following, whether that is with Scotland or England. “For sure,” Burke said. “I have big ambitions to play international rugby and first things first I need to come over here and play well for Saracens and whatever happens in that space happens. It’s exciting.

“Taine was in my 20s team and he has done awesome. Lots of boys have come over here and made it work. You look at Ethan Roots and Chandler [Cunningham-South] and boys like that. It is exciting. It is a different challenge and I am looking forward to it.”

Burke was more of a football player in his youth before specialising in rugby when he went to St Paul’s Collegiate in Hamilton and then entered the Crusaders academy. While Glasgow Warriors were interested in signing Burke, he opted for Saracens and his loss to New Zealand rugby has been described as “devastating” by former All Black wing Israel Dagg.

He would have been the Crusaders’ starting fly-half this season only to suffer an achilles injury that ruled him out until the tail end of the campaign, guiding them to a victory over a Blues side that would go on to win the Super Rugby title. He also received a ringing endorsement from former Australia and Crusaders coach Robbie Deans, who worked with Burke last week for the Barbarians.

“If he had been there from the start of the year, the Crusaders would probably have been winning a lot more,” Deans said. “He understands the game, he’s reliable and he obviously has skill. He is just getting started. He is a very good player. I think he’s a good recruit. Mark [McCall, Saracens’ director of rugby] runs a good programme, he’s no slug.”

While Burke has huge shoes to fill at Saracens in the form of departing fly-half Owen Farrell, he also effectively replaced All Blacks fly-half Richie Mo’unga at the Crusaders so is undaunted by the challenge. “I’ve been through something similar this year, although I’ve been injured a bit, with Richie Mo’unga leaving,” Burke said. “I’m my own player but I have ultimate respect for what Owen’s done at Saracens and he will probably go down as the greatest ever. It’s awesome and I’m looking forward to joining the club.”