Former rugby union international Kris Burton is playing for the Surfers Paradise Gorillas
Monday 7 November 2016
By Olivia Edwards
Former rugby union international Kris Burton is loving his first Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games.
On Sunday (6 November) Burton debuted at the masters games as flyhalf with the Surfers Paradise Gorillas. It may have been a far cry from his Test career with the Italian national team, but he was enjoying every moment.
The 36-year-old is competing in honour of his late grandmother who had participated in previous masters games in lawn bowls and had enjoyed the spirit of the games.
“Making the Italian team for the first time was amazing, especially with my mum and grandma being Italian. It was a great family thing for me to achieve and them being proud of me is a great achievement too,” Kris said.
“Every time I put on a test or club jumper I take that as an achievement, representing your team and country and doing the best you can is amazing.”
Kris coaches the Surfers Gorillas and hopes all his players embrace the team spirit and nature of the games just as much as the physical training.
“I’m always competitive. I’m a pretty quiet person until I get on the field. Getting back in the team spirit and coaching is great,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to the games. It should be a fun three days of rugby. As long as everyone has fun and plays in the right spirit I think its going to be a good event.”
In their opening game, the Gorillas downed the Sunshine Coast Slowrays 24-7.
The 10th biennial Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games is being held 5 – 13 November 2016 on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
The event showcases competition in 43 sports and is hosting 13,000 participants from Queensland, interstate and overseas.
