The 2016 November Player of the Month is Zack “Junior” Burns! Junior is the co-captain of this team and did a tremendous job filling in on the field for injured captain Jeremy Reid in the winter/spring. Junior is a player who leads by example and is someone the younger players look up to. After suffering a devastating knee injury last year it has been a pleasure to watch Junior’s excellent play out on the pitch this year. Junior has had a tremendous Fall 15s season and we look forward to see what he can do in 7s come 2017. Congratulations Junior! Let’s learn more about the Senior for Massachusetts.

Name: Zack “Junior” Burns
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 200
Year: Senior
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Danvers, MA

Why rugby?
I started playing because it looked like a fun sport and I didn’t have to try out to make my high school team. I stuck with it because the culture of the sport is amazing. It’s very competitive but it seems like most people are very willing to help each other improve their skills, fitness, knowledge, etc. Meeting another rugger out in the wild is a pretty good way to make an immediate friend.

What have you liked about Michigan Rugby the most thus far?
My teammates. We’re the kind of people to stick with each other through thick and thin. We’re always working to be one of the top teams in the nation and our alumni always give us strong support to do that.

Most memorable moment on the pitch?
Picking off a pass against Illinois in 2014 and returning it over 60 meters for a try. It got our season off to a good start, and I made their back line look silly because they got out-run by a lock.

What’s your favorite rugby drill in practice? Least favorite?
I like drills where the forwards get to work our trail lines off of the backs. Scrimmages are always a lot of fun too. My least favorite is any kind of repetitive fitness. I’d rather give 100% in a full contact scrimmage than run 50 meter sprints over and over again.

What other sports have you played?
I was really into baseball until middle school. Rugby has surpassed any sport I ever played in terms of my commitment to it and my love for the game.

In 5 years what do you see yourself doing?
I’d like to do something involving machine learning and data analysis. I worked on it over the summer at my internship and will be stepping into a similar role when I go back there for a full-time job after graduation. If I could eventually combine my love for rugby with my career in data science, then I’d love to do that.

What’re some embarrassing childhood memories you can share with us?
After my first school rugby practice when I was a junior in high school, I was a little sick from the fitness when my mom picked me up. Our house was a half mile down the street, but I couldn’t make it all the way home before saying “pull over” and proceeding to lose my lunch all over the side of the car. I washed it when I got home…

Favorite place in Ann Arbor?
The Huron river. I’ve been slowly discovering more places to hang out to swim, hike, etc. The Arb is great, and I really like sitting on the crooked tree by the river, but I also like going on floats or swimming at Bandemer.

Biggest fear?
Ruining my reputation. I know I’ve made some mistakes (and probably will continue to make mistakes), but at the end of the day I want people to still think I’m a good friend and good person.

Favorite food/meal?
Pretty much anything that has been smoked all day. My dad makes some great smoked ribs and chicken thighs.

Any game-day superstitions?
No superstitions, but rituals. I like to take a lot of time to just walk around and be in my own head for a while without doing anything really physical.

Favorite superhero and why?
Deadpool, mostly for the humor. But he also has his heart in the right places and seems to only fight bad guys even though he’s still a jerk to most people.

Best advice you’ve ever received?
Not necessarily advice, but rugby has taught me to bounce back from failure. You can get hit really hard and look like an idiot, but the longer you stay down the worse it’s gonna look, and the worse your team will do. Get up and fix it.