Cockerill Announces Burns Signing

Leicester have signed five new players including one of the country's brightest young talents in Gloucester fly-half Freddie Burns, according to Tigers boss Richard Cockerill.

Burns joins the club to replace Toby Flood, who will join Toulouse, and arrives alongside Treviso's Christian Loamanu, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Robert Barbieri, as well as Castres' veteran fly-half Seremaia Bai.

Burns scored 986 points in 134 appearances for Gloucester and Cockerill believes the 24-year-old's talent will be tested and honed at Welford Road.

While the club are yet to officially confirm the deals, Cockerill, speaking about Burns, told BBC Leicester: "Everyone wants young English players and I've got one of the hottest talents at 10 in the English game."

"When he's as good as he can be, he's as good as anybody. He's coming to one of the toughest environments that will cut no quarter for him, so let's see how he gets on.

"He's had a difficult season for lots of reasons and he's got a little bit of adjusting to do, getting used to what we do and learning that it's about the team and not the individual, but he's a fantastic player, a fantastic talent," said Cockerill.

"Along with Owen Williams, he'll be really good for us. He's come to fight for his spot and if he plays better than Owen, he'll play."