Billy Burns returns to The rec tomorrow plotting to take down his boyhood club.
Tomorrow’s opening European Cup clash sees the former Bath Ball boy facing his big brother Freddie, in what promises to be a homecoming to remember.
“It was the club I supported as a child and I got introduced to rugby at Bath, so it will be a great occasion to go back there,” said Ulster’s number 10.
“I was ball-boy at The Rec for four or five years but I probably overstayed my welcome.
“I was about 15 and the rest of them were all about 10! But I loved it so much,
“I used to go down there and watch, and Freddie was in the Bath Academy for a little while before he made the move to Gloucester, but I used to always be down there watching all the games.
“That was probably where I got my first love for rugby. I really harnessed the sport and knew that it was something I wanted to do.
“I loved just being right by the pitch, you almost felt as if you were part of the game.
“One of my jobs as one of the senior ball-boys was to fill the water up which meant I was in the changing rooms before they would go out, so I used to be right in the thick of it when they did their teams talks.”
From ball-boy to water-boy to professional rugby player, the wheel has come full circle bringing Burns back home to Bath – albeit to the away dressing-room.
“I have a lot of friends and family who still support Bath. I have played against Fred a few times before and it will be a special occasion for the family, except my mum. Everyone else will enjoy it.”
Burns, a Challenge Cup winner with Gloucester five years ago, has played against his older brother Freddie before in the English Premiership.
To do it in Bath, though, is extra special.
“I am looking forward to it more because it is quite strange howmyrugbycareerhasgone.
“I started in Bath and I am now going to be going back across and representing the province here and it will be a strange feeling but one I will be massively proud of, and to do it in front of a lot of people I went to school with as well.
“But it will not be good if we lose that is for sure. It will be a better experience if we win.”
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