THIRTY years ago Paul Burke was captaining Epsom College as well as playing fly-half for the England Schools 18 Group so there is an element of life turning full circle now that he is back as director of rugby at the Surrey school who continue to punch well above their weight on one of the toughest of circuits.
In between times he enjoyed a distinguished career that straddled the amateur and professional eras with spells at Loughborough University, London Irish, Munster, Bristol, Cardiff, Harlequins and finally Leicester Tigers where he also served as assistant coach to Richard Cockerill. There were also 13 caps for Ireland during which he clocked up 108 points.
Burke returned to Epsom in 2015 and took over the role of director of rugby in 2016 and, in the last two seasons in particular, Epsom have begun to flex their muscles impressively, reaching the final of the Champions Cup in 2018, when they lost a spectacular game against Wellington College 24-16, and then reaching the semi-final last season when Wellington again accounted for them in a fine encounter. They are beginning to keep very good company indeed.
Burke is also in an ideal position to compare the two eras of schoolboy rugby, separated by three decades: “I’m in awe at the overall quality of schools rugby at present, there are so many outstanding teams, being trained and coached at the highest level.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 16, 2020-Ausgabe von The Rugby Paper.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 16, 2020-Ausgabe von The Rugby Paper.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Army leave it late to regain trophy
MOMENTS and minutes change matches in equal measure, and that is exactly what happened at Kingsholm as the British Army’s men regained the Inter Service Championship trophy.
Blues hold on in battle at the top
BLUES held on with their backs to their try line as they edged past the Hurricanes 31-27 to leapfrog their Kiwi rivals and move top of the table.
Harrison leads from front to seal it for Saracens
SARACENS returned to Allianz PWR action with a bonus-point win at StoneX Stadium.
Coventry denied by powerful Pirates
SHEER pack power delivered two classic late rolling maul tries as Pirates maintained their quest for a second place Championship finish.
Davies the leading light in Welsh quartet
FOUR international flyhalves took flight from Wales last year, understandably so given the alternative of staying put on contracts shredded by the rugby recession.
Rugby's holy trinity prove the difference
SINCE time immemorial, rugby has been cloaked in its own cliches: Prince Obolensky was always “dashing”; Colin Meads lived his life as an “unsmiling giant”; Martin Johnson was rarely anything other than “beetle-browed”; and Billy Vunipola, easier to stop with an elephant gun than he is with a Taser according to recent evidence from a late-night bar in Mallorca, will forever be known as “the man who shamed the shirt he wasn’t wearing”.
Tbilisi win was key - Skivington
GEORGE Skivington has credited the European Challenge Cup win against Black Lion in Tbilisi as the moment Gloucester turned their season around.
Scarlets pay price for lack of discipline
ULSTER gave their URC play-off hopes a major boost as they capitalised on indiscipline from the hosts to secure maximum points in Llanelli.
James at his best as Sale keep in the race
SAM James might be departing for pastures new but Sale’s Mr Dependable produced a nigh on immaculate performance at full-back as they continue to battle for a play-off place.
Russell masterclass has Bath in top gear
FINN Russell scored eight points, pulled the strings for three of Bath’s tries and barely put a foot wrong in a classy display that will send shivers down the spine of their Premiership title rivals.