[4] His father was a successful boot and shoe maker, employing a number of men at his firm in Hawick.
Burnet was described as a regular throughout as he played 22 times, making his first appearance in the third match on tour against Canterbury in a 14–6 win.
[1] During the 1888 tour, after the Brisbane match, Willie's brother Bob decided to stay in Australia.
Along with the rest of the tour party, they were found not to have contravened the rules and in late November 1888 they returned to Hawick, apparently to a hero’s welcome.
He went to Buffalo, Wyoming, where he and Alex Laing set up a successful sheep farming ranch.