Shute Shield: Gordon’s rugby rookie Denzel Burns scores four tries in first full game
Denzel Burns scored four tries last weekend for his new club. Not bad for someone playing a full game of rugby for the first time.
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He’s one of the fastest men in rugby in a big hurry to get his chance in Shute Shield.
And while he’s only played rugby a handful of times in his life, Denzel Burns is clearly a quick learner with six tries in the last two matches – including four in his first every 80 minute game.
And his success comes after overcoming numerous setbacks just to take the field, including am inflamed appendix requiring hospitalisation and a lower back disc injury requiring weeks of rest.
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“It felt good to be finally out there, ’’ said the 20-year-old Burns of his impressive performance with Gordon’s second grade outfit against Randwick last round.
“I worked my way back in and have come back fitter and stronger that ever.”
Gordon coach Darren Coleman has now said if he performs again this weekend the youngster will be elevated to the Shute Shield bench.
“The only person happier than me to see him play like that last week was Denzel himself,’’ Coleman said.
The coach was integral in bringing Burns to the club this season from Queensland with the young flyer working as an apprentice electrician on Sydney’s north shore.
“I was just always a rugby league boy, I’ve never played union at all. my first full game of rugby 15s was last weekend,” said Burns, who played with the Ipswich Jets and Toowoomba Valley Roosters in Queensland before moving to Sydney to give rugby a crack.
Burns sprang to attention when named in the First Nations team to play a series of sevens tournament last season despite never having played the game before attending a selection camp.
Now he is doing his all to impress in the 15s version of the game.
“I took the opportunity to be seen by whoever, whether it’s Rugby Sevens or 15s,’' he said.
“I do have aspirations of playing professionally. I’m just keen to do whatever is thrown at me.’’
In round nine of the Shute Shield, Gordon will play Southern Districts at Chatwsood Oval.