England international announces retirement and hits out at critics in punchy statement

SportRugbyEngland Rugby Union TeamThe veteran back has called time on his professional career11:16, 06 Aug 2026Former England international Freddie Burns has announced his retirement from rugby and taken the opportunity to hit out at the critics who doubted he would make it.‌The 36-year-old has called time on a career that saw him represent his country five times on the international stage and win the Premiership title with Leicester Tigers in 2022, after he scored a dramatic last-minute drop goal in the final. As well as spells with Leicester, Gloucester and Bath, Burns also played in Japan and New Zealand before joining Romanian side Dinamo Bucuresti last year.‌However, following a season in Romania, the fly-half has decided it is time to hang up his boots, and he has announced his decis