Freddie Burns is back at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, this time as Leicester Tigers’ kicking coach rather than the last-minute hero with the ball in hand.
His playing legacy at the club was defined by the match-winning drop-goal that secured the 2022 Premiership title against Saracens at Twickenham.
Just three weeks after announcing his retirement from professional rugby, the 36-year-old has been appointed as the Tigers’ new kicking coach. Burns replaces Alex Davies, who departed to join the Wales national team coaching staff, and will serve under head coach Geoff Parling, a former Leicester teammate. The club confirmed Burns’ appointment on August 25, beginning his third spell with the team after previous stints from 2014 to 2017 and 2021 to 2023.
The return follows a globetrotting playing career. Burns was most recently a player-coach for Dinamo Bucuresti in Romania, after spells in New Zealand with the Highlanders and in Japan. He also played for Gloucester and Bath, collected five England caps between 2012 and 2014, and made 114 appearances for Tigers.
For Leicester supporters, that late drop-goal remains vivid. It delivered the club’s most recent top-flight title and secured Burns’ place in Tigers folklore.
Leicester nearly repeated the feat in 2025 by reaching the Premiership final, then advanced to the semi-finals last season. The ultimate prize, however, has eluded the club since Burns’ decisive intervention.
Parling said: “We’re excited for Fred to start his full-time coaching career with us. He will work with our kickers in both the first-team and academy and is hungry to pass on what he’s learned across a distinguished playing career.”
Burns will work with senior and academy kickers as Leicester prepare for the new season.
“It’s a club I care deeply about and I’m excited to help try and get the best out of this group that has huge potential,” Burns said. “I’ve had a brilliant career in terms of where I’ve been able to play the game around the world, nothing comes close to this place though.”
He added: “I’m really excited to get to work and be back at Oval Park. Being here on matchdays will be brilliant, I can’t wait.”
Burns’ retirement was confirmed earlier this month following his dual role in Romania, and Leicester moved quickly to fill the vacancy created by Davies’ departure.
The Tigers begin the new season with a high-profile home opener against Saracens on September 27, while those following rugby market movements and future value assessments will also have Burns’ appointment in view.
