Fraser Balmain
{{Short description|English rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Fraser Balmain
| image =Fraser_Balmain.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name = Fraser John Balmain
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|11|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = Newcastle upon Tyne, England
| death_date =
| height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|117|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| school = Newlands School
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne
| university = Loughborough University
| position = Tighthead Prop
| currentclub = Saracens
| years1 = 2011–2017
| clubs1 = Leicester Tigers
| apps1 = 96
| points1 = 10
| years2 = 2017–2024
| clubs2 = Gloucester
| apps2 = 139
| points2 = 60
| clubs3 = Saracens
| years3 = 2024–
| apps3 = 0
| points3 = 0
| clubupdate = 13 June 2024
| ru_nationalyears = 2014
| ru_nationalteam = England XV
| ru_nationalcaps = 1
| ru_nationalpoints = (0)
| ru_ntupdate = 1 June 2014
}}
Fraser John Balmain (born 16 November 1991){{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/player/128951.html|title=Fraser Balmain|publisher=ESPNscrum|access-date=1 September 2016}} is an English professional rugby union player who plays prop forward for Saracens in Premiership Rugby. He previously played for Gloucester and Leicester Tigers.{{cite web |url=http://www.leicestertigers.com/rugby/leicester_tigers_senior_squad.php?player=98440&includeref=dynamic|title= Leicester Tigers Senior Squad - Fraser Balmain|work=web page |publisher=Leicester Tigers |access-date =11 June 2013}}
Career
Balmain joined Leicester Tigers in July 2010 after being released from Newcastle Falcons academy and turning down an academy contract from Northampton Saints.{{cite web|url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/tigers-pounce-for-ex-falcon-fraser-4453884|title=Tigers pounce for ex-Falcon Fraser|publisher=The Journal|date=6 July 2010|access-date=1 September 2016}} On 12 November 2010 he made his Leicester debut from the bench during an Anglo-Welsh Cup game against Ospreys in Bridgend.{{cite news|url=https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/tigers-will-learn-from-cup-experience-2010-11-14|publisher=Leicester Tigers|title=Tigers will learn from cup experience|date=14 November 2010|access-date=1 September 2016}} He had to wait two years though to make his first start against the New Zealand Maori on 13 November 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.leicestertigers.com/rugby/15317.php|title=Tigers celebrate famous win over Maori All Blacks|publisher=Leicester Tigers|date=13 November 2012|access-date=1 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224859/http://www.leicestertigers.com/rugby/15317.php|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}
Balmain played as a replacement during the 2013 Premiership final as Leicester defeated Northampton Saints.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/22656677|title=Aviva Premiership final: Leicester 37-17 Northampton|first=Chris|last=Osborne|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 May 2013|access-date=9 February 2020}} The following year on 1 June 2014 saw him receive international recognition as he came off the bench as a substitute for an England XV in a non-cap friendly against the Barbarians.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/27657165|title=England XV 29-39 Barbarians|first=Graham|last=Chase|website=BBC Sport|date=1 June 2014|access-date=23 June 2024}} In his last season at the club Balmain started for the Tigers side that defeated Exeter Chiefs to win the 2016–17 Anglo-Welsh Cup.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39292142|title=Anglo-Welsh Cup final: Exeter Chiefs 12-16 Leicester Tigers|website=BBC Sport|date=19 March 2017|access-date=23 June 2024}}
On 10 January 2017, Balmain left Leicester to join Premiership rivals Gloucester ahead of the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38563935|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Fraser Balmain and Val Rapava Ruskin: Gloucester sign props for next season|date=10 January 2017|access-date=23 June 2024}} In his first campaign at the club he was part of the side that were defeated by Cardiff Blues in the 2017–18 European Rugby Challenge Cup final.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37680124|title=European Challenge Cup final: Cardiff Blues 31-30 Gloucester|first=Dafydd|last=Pritchard|publisher=BBC Sport|date=11 May 2018|access-date=23 June 2024}} The following campaign saw the cherry and whites reach the league play-offs and their elimination at the semi-final stage.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48351795|title=Premiership semi-final: Saracens crush Gloucester 44-19 to reach fifth final in six years|first=Brent|last=Pilnick|website=BBC Sport|date=25 May 2019|access-date=23 June 2024}} In his last season with the club Balmain started in the 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium which saw them beaten by Sharks to finish runners up.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cp6676w9gxyo|title=Sharks overpower Gloucester to win Challenge Cup|first=Sophie|last=Hurcom|publisher=BBC Sport|date=24 May 2024|access-date=23 June 2024}}
After over 100 appearances for Gloucester, in June 2024 Balmain joined Saracens.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/czdd0x2k345o|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Saracens sign prop Balmain from Gloucester|date=13 June 2024|access-date=23 June 2024}}
Honours
References
External links
- [http://www.leicestertigers.com/rugby/leicester_tigers_senior_squad.php?player=98440&includeref=dynamic Leicester Tigers Profile]
{{Saracens F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balmain, Fraser}}
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Leicester Tigers players
Category:Gloucester Rugby players
Category:Saracens F.C. players
Category:Rugby union players from Newcastle upon Tyne
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