Pegasus Post: July 24, 2018

12 Tuesday July 24 2018
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
PEGASUS POST
New chapter in Burleigh legacy
• By Gordon Findlater
NEW BRIGHTON’S Burleigh
legacy has entered a new chapter.
In November, Phil Burleigh
was part of the Scottish team
that thrashed Australia 53-24 at
Murrayfield.
Now the second five-eighths
returned to his roots to help
New Brighton make this
weekend’s Hawkins Cup final
after finishing a four-year stint
playing in Edinburgh.
On Saturday, New Brighton
defeated Christchurch 27-24
at Christchurch Park to set up
a repeat of the 2016 Hawkins
Trophy final against Lincoln
University.
THe 31-year-old turned out for
his boyhood club for the first
time in a decade last weekend
when they defeated University
19-15.
And he wasn’t the only
Burleigh named in Brighton’s
team – younger brother Matt
came off the bench to play at
half-back during the match
making it the first time the pair
had played together.
“It was brilliant . . . Matt’s nine
years younger than me. I thought
one day we might eventually
get a chance to do it, but it was
special to finally do it,” said Phil.
THeir father Wayne Burleigh
played 269 matches for New
Brighton’s premier team,
something Phil, 48, and
FAMILY: Phil, Wayne and Matt Burleigh.
Matt, 33, aren’t even close to
combined. Wayne earned 48
caps for Canterbury playing as
a midfielder during the 1980s
shield era.
Now Phil, 10 years after
thinking the dream of following
his in his dad’s footsteps of
playing in red and black were
over, will get the chance to
make his Canterbury debut
after signing a one-year contract
with the rugby union for the
upcoming ITM Cup campaign.
However, before that he
will play his 50th cap for New
Brighton in his first ever final for
the club. The 50-game milestone
INTERNATIONAL: Phil
Burleigh spent four years
playing for Edinburgh in
the Pro 14 competition and
earned a Scotland cap in
2017.
also earns Burleigh a New
Brighton blazer.
“THis is where I started my
rugby as a four or five-year-old.
It’s a club that’s moulded me
into the player I am . . . I’ve
played at a lot of different places
around the world, it never quite
means the same as when you’re
playing for the club where it all
began.”
Burleigh played secondary
school rugby for Shirley Boys’
High School before playing
premier club rugby for Brighton
SPORTS
through until 2008. He had a
season in the Canterbury squad
without playing a game and
moved to Bay of Plenty for the
2009 NPC season at the age of 21
in search of more opportunities.
After a short stint in Super
Rugby with the Chiefs in 2010
Burleigh went onto make 32
appearances for the Highlanders
between 2012 and 2014.
Following his stint with
Canterbury later this year
Burleigh will return to Super
Rugby with the Sunwolves in
Japan, linking up with his former
Highlanders coaches Tony
Brown and Jamie Joseph after
signing a two-year deal with the
franchise.
“I haven’t actually spoken
to them yet to be honest, but
I assume Jamie and Tony had
something to do with it.”
Burleigh is also hopeful of
adding to his one and only
Scotland cap and is hopeful he
may be able to play himself into
contention for the 2019 World
Cup in Japan.
“I’m still eligible to play for
them. If my body holds through
then I’ll definitely put my hand
up.”
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