Burke agrees transfer to Newcastle
LONDON, England -- Matt Burke, who kicked Australia to victory at the 1999 World Cup final, has joined Newcastle, the English club have said.
The 31-year-old, who is a prolific goal-kicker and has played mostly at fullback and centre in 77 tests for Australia, has signed a two-year deal with Newcastle.
In a test career spanning a decade, Burke has scored 868 points and most famously contributed 25 points as Australia beat France 35-12 in the 1999 World Cup final.
"I am delighted to have signed for Newcastle and am looking forward to the next phase of my career," he said.
Burke, whose 959 points for the New South Wales Waratahs make him the highest scorer in Super 12 history, played for Australia in last weekend's test against Scotland but was omitted from the squad for this weekend's second match.
He has been released early from his Australian Rugby Union (ARU) contract, which ran until December, to allow him to pursue a career in the northern hemisphere.
"Matthew is one of the biggest names in world rugby, and it represents massive ambition on behalf of the club that we have managed to attract a player of his quality," Newcastle's director of rugby Rob Andrew said.
Newcastle, where Burke will play outside England World Cup winning flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, finished ninth in the English premiership last season but qualified for the European Cup by winning the English Cup.
