Saracens’ New Signing Fergus Burke Shares Aspirations for International Rugby

Fergus Burke aims to fulfill his international rugby ambitions by stepping into the significant role left by Owen Farrell at Saracens.

Burke, recruited from the Canterbury Crusaders where he served as Richie Mo’unga’s understudy, joins Saracens as a replacement for Farrell, the former England captain pivotal in the club’s successes with six Gallagher Premiership and three European titles.

While having represented New Zealand’s under-20 team, Burke eyes playing for either England or Scotland, facilitated by his English mother with Scottish heritage.

“I have big ambitions to play international rugby. First and foremost, I need to perform well for Saracens and see where that journey takes me. It’s an exciting challenge,” Burke expressed.

Inspired by fellow New Zealanders who made successful transitions to European rugby, Burke sees Taine Plumtree, Ethan Roots, and Chandler Cunningham-South as examples of thriving in a new rugby environment.

“Seeing the success of players like Taine, Ethan, and Chandler after leaving New Zealand is encouraging. It’s a new challenge, and I’m eager to embrace it,” Burke remarked.

At Saracens, Burke acknowledges the responsibility of shaping the team’s future post-Farrell, drawing parallels to his experience replacing Mo’unga at the Crusaders.

“I’ve faced a similar situation this year with Richie Mo’unga leaving the Crusaders. While I bring my own style, I have immense respect for Owen’s achievements at Saracens. He’s a legend,” Burke reflected.

Looking ahead, Burke anticipates integrating into Saracens’ setup and eventually reconnecting with Farrell to learn from his predecessor’s experiences.