Fergus Burke has revealed how he turned down an approach from England in favour of committing his international future to Scotland.
Born and raised in New Zealand, the 25-year-old fly-half has been a man in demand since leaving Crusaders to join Saracens last summer.
Burke’s performances for Sarries had caught the eye of both Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend as well as England boss Steve Borthwick.
Indeed, Townsend revealed last week how he had been tracking Burke for a number of years after naming him in Scotland’s Six Nations squad.
The Kiwi playmaker qualifies for Scotland through his Grandad, but he also qualified to play for England through his Mum.
Burke has now revealed that he rebuffed an approach from England in favour of pledging his allegiance to Scotland.
Fergus Burke will get to watch fellow No 10 Finn Russell at close range in Scotland training
Burke has revealed that Scotland’s style of play with a big reason in rejecting England
In particular, he feels that Scotland’s expansive style of play will be a better fit for the skillset he possesses.
Asked whether he had any formal conversations with England, Burke said: ‘Yeah. It was kind of just around: “You’re close [to making the squad], so stay English qualified”. That type of route.
‘But I spoke to my family and made a decision to commit to Scotland – and it’s something that I don’t take for granted.
‘Simple as that. I’m just so grateful to be in this environment – it’s an awesome environment, a successful team and it was a no-brainer to represent Scotland.
‘I spoke to England a little bit in the last wee while, but when Gregor gave me that call it was something that I wanted to do and that I’m fully committed to.
‘Andy Christie [Scotland back-rower] is at Sarries as well and, speaking to him about the environment, the style of play here, I feel like it suits me the most.
‘I feel like the style that Scotland play definitely suits my game and it’s exciting.
‘My family are super excited. Most of my immediate family are still in New Zealand. My grandparents on my mum’s side have passed away now, so unfortunately don’t get to see this achievement
‘But they’re all proud, it’s a super proud moment for my family. My grandad was born in Edinburgh but he was based in Glasgow before moving to England and meeting my grandma and having my mum in Dover. She was one of nine children.
‘I’ve always known of my Scottish connections and that my grandad was Scottish. I’ve been having conversations with Gregor for three or four years, quite a while.
‘I’ve always known it’s kind of there and the exciting opportunity that could arise if it went that way and I’m grateful that it has.’
Burke has been in training camp with his new team-mates this week and, given his stellar performances with Sarries, there’s a feeling he could well hit the ground running in international rugby.
Scotland begin their Six Nations against Italy at Murrayfield next Saturday, with Finn Russell and Tom Jordan the other two fly-halves in the squad.
Burke revealed how he hadn’t ever even set foot in the UK prior to last summer, when he was selected to play for the Barbarians against Fiji prior to joining Saracens.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend won the tug-o-war with England for Burke
Making it clear that he always wanted to test himself at the top level, he explained: I definitely knew I wanted to play rugby over this side of the world at some point.
‘It probably happened a little bit faster than what I had imagined but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
‘The first time I’d been in the UK was when I played for the Barbarians last June, so it’s been cool.
‘I’m slowly getting around and getting to tick off more places. It’s cool to see where my family’s been and where my mum grew up in England and things like that.
‘I grew up on the North Island in New Zealand, on the East Coast in a place called Gisborne.
‘I had an awesome childhood, went to high school in Hamilton and then got recruited down into the Crusaders Academy out of school and spent the last seven or so years down there and then five years with the Crusaders before coming to Sarries.
‘I’m excited to be here. Finn is world-class, I’ve watched him for a long time. He’s definitely got his own style of playing and I definitely rate him as at least one of the top fly halves in the world if not the top.
‘So to be able to come in here and learn from him, have conversations with him about how he sees the game is so good for my development as well.’
