Billy the Kid is a kid no more.

Gloucester fly-half Billy Burns turned 23 in the summer and last season he truly came of age in a cherry and white shirt.

He had long come out of the shadow of big brother Freddie, of course, but in the season just gone he wrested the number 10 shirt from many times capped Wales international James Hook and went on to produce some excellent performances, most notably against La Rochelle in the European Challenge Cup semi-final.

This season he faces a new challenge to his recently acquired status as the club’s number one playmaker in the shape of new signing Owen Williams.

The 25-year-old Welsh international – he made his debut as a late replacement against Tonga in the summer – has joined the club from Leicester and there are big hopes he will make an early impression at the club.

Burns is relishing the challenge. “He’s a very good player,” he said. “I’ve got nothing but respect for him and it should be a good battle. He’s so talented he can play anywhere along the back line.

“I’m sure we’ll learn a lot from each other and the competition for places can only be good for the club.”

Burns has only good words to say about another Welshman, Hook, who left the club at the end of last season to join Ospreys.

“Hooky was great for me,” he said. “I learned so much from him and I’m sure he’ll do really well in Wales.”

It was that performance in La Rochelle that really made people sit up and take notice of Burns.

To score all 16 of his side’s points – Gloucester won 16-14 – at the business end of a big European competition is something that not too many manage.

His points haul included an outstanding interception try and he admitted: “That sort of game is what you always dream about. The key for me now is to do it more consistently.”

Burns has always made it clear that he sees himself as a 10 and the arrival of new head coach Johan Ackermann may have an immediate positive impact on his game.

“I can play full-back but I see myself as a fly-half,” he said. “I think there could be a slight change to the way we play this season. He likes to play an exciting brand of rugby and keep the ball in hand which is how I like to play.”

Both Burns and Williams will need to be on top of their games, of course, if Gloucester are to start fulfilling their potential after too many seasons of under-achievement.

Four bottom half finishes in the Premiership in the last four seasons have tested the patience of even the most loyal members of the Kingsholm faithful but Burns is sure better times are just around the corner.

“I think a top six finish is definitely on this season,” he said. “We’ve got a stronger squad than last season. We’re aiming high. No one was happy with where we finished last season.

“The European cup final defeat was also hard to take but the experience will make us a better side.

“We really are very close to being a top side but we’ve got to find a way of turning narrow defeats into narrow wins.

“It’s been a problem for three or four years but it’s one we’re determined to solve.”

One thing Gloucester can be certain of when they run out for their season opener against Exeter Chiefs on Friday 1st September is the huge backing of their fans at Kingsholm.

“It’s an incredible place to play rugby,” said Burns. “People talk about the atmosphere at football matches but Kingsholm is something special.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a Friday night or a Saturday afternoon – it’s still special. It’s something we’ve spoken about, we really want to do something for the fans.”

Burns is well placed to compare the atmosphere at football and rugby matches because as a youngster he used to go and watch Chelsea play.

“I was a big football fan and I still am,” he said. “A friend of my dad’s used to be a season-ticket holder at Chelsea and he’d take me along. It was in the days of Gianfranco Zola, he was some player.”

Burns is a big sports fan – he was watching F1 on television just before he spoke to The Local Answer – and it helps him take his mind off the everyday rigours of life with Gloucester Rugby, as does his coaching role with Cheltenham Saracens.

He shares the coaching duties at the go-ahead Gloucester Premier club with Kingsholm clubmate Jacob Rowan and said: “It’s something we both really enjoy.

“It helps me get a work/life balance. I know it’s still rugby but I’m thinking about something else other than Gloucester.

“It’s something that we’re really passionate about. It’s not all about the result although we obviously like to win, it’s about a group of guys going out to play rugby and enjoying themselves.”

The Gloucester duo helped Saracens win two cups at the end of last season so they must be doing something right. So, is coaching something that Burns would like to take up when he hangs up his boots?

“Definitely, it’s something I’ve started to think about,” he said, “I’ve started doing my coaching badges.

“It will be difficult because there are so many great coaches but I’ve started coaching at a young age and the experience will stand me in good stead.”

More immediately, Gloucester fans will be hoping the experience Burns gained with the Cherry and Whites last season will stand him in good stead in the new campaign.