Burke enjoying his second coming

Paul Burke's sparkling form for Harlequins in the Tetley Cup final underlined the current healthy state of Irish rugby.

Burke created an individual record when he scored 22 points from outhalf in the final but Harlequins still suffered the disappointment of losing to a Newcastle try that was scored three minutes into injury time.

Burke, still just 27 years of age, has not played for Ireland’s senior team since 1997 when he came in as a replacement for Kurt McQuilkin against Scotland but has not given up hope of adding to his 10 senior caps.

He was named in the Ireland A squad for the match against Scotland and his re emergence as a major force is a tribute to his spirit for his career has regularly been interrupted by serious injury.

Earlier this season he suffered a broken arm and a couple of years ago he lost almost a full season when he seriously damaged his ankle playing for Cardiff.

He spent two years at Cardiff and, while he had to cope with competition from Neil Jenkins for Cardiff’s number 10 shirt, he performed with such distinction that he was an overwhelming winner of the supporters’ poll for player of the season.

Cardiff won the Welsh/Scottish league and Burke scored the hugely impressive total of 277 points in 15 games.

His form attracted the attention of the Irish rugby authorities but attempts to persuade Cardiff to release him with one year of his three year contract still to run in order to play with Leinster failed.

He explained: “Cardiff were not prepared to release me without some compensation and the IRFU refused to pay a transfer fee.

“I knew I had to move on to further my career and Harlequins came in with a two year contract and agreed a fee with Cardiff.”

He has enjoyed his time with Harlequins but it was spoiled somewhat by their experiences in the Tetley Cup final. Everything seemed to be building to a climax for the club until a controversial lineout decision went against them and Newcastle took advantage to score the winning points.

Said Burke: “It was a fantastic game for the club and it was a great achievement just to get to the final.

“Looking back on it, having seen it on the video several times, the lineout decision was just unbelievable.

“I know that Newcastle had to score but it was made a lot easier for them with the fact that they were given that decision.

“If it was our lineout then the game would have been pretty much over, we would have caught it, turned it and just booted it out of the stadium! It wasn’t to be and we’ve just got to pick ourselves up from this defeat.” Harlequins have a quick opportunity of putting the record straight against the Falcons when they play them in the League tonight in Newcastle.

Burke is relishing the prospect of playing directly opposite England’s current hero, Jonny Wilkinson.

It is a curious fact that in different circumstances Paul Burke might be keeping Wilkinson out of the England team. He was born in England of Irish parents mother from Kildare, father from Galway and played for England at every level up to the senior team. There was never any doubt about his Irishness, however an uncle was chairman of Galway GAA board or of his willingness to declare for Ireland in November 1992. And in the course of his ten senior matches he scored 103 points 26 penalties, one drop goal and eleven conversions.

During his time with Ireland’s seniors he jousted with Eric Elwood for the outhalf position and now he finds his path is blocked by a more youthful incumbent in Ronan O’Gara.

Meanwhile he is happy to process his claims for a recall with Ireland’s A team.

He said: “It’s fantastic to be back in the Ireland A team, but to be honest it’s just great to be involved with the squad having been out of the scene last year and then to have picked up another injury. I thought then that my chance was gone because I hadn’t played for eleven weeks.

“I’m delighted that having had a good performance against Newcastle in the final I got promoted to the starting line up (with Ireland A) and I’m obviously disappointed that the game didn’t go ahead.

“I still firmly believe that I have another world cup inside me, but Ronan O’Gara is playing very well and doing very well with Munster and he fully deserves to be in the starting line up.”