Seb Blake
{{Short description|English rugby union player}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Seb Blake
| image =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|10|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Cheltenham, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}}{{cite web |title=Seb Blake |url= https://all.rugby/player/seb-blake |website=All.Rugby|access-date=17 January 2024}}
| weight = {{convert|114|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}
| school = Cheltenham College
| position = Hooker
| currentclub = Gloucester
| years1 = 2021–
| clubs1 = Gloucester
| apps1 = 42
| points1 = 65
| clubupdate = 3 July 2024
}}
Seb Blake (born 5 October 2001) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Gloucester Rugby.
Early life
Blake's mother was born in Perth, Western Australia and emigrated to England with her family aged ten.{{cite news |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/seb-blake-from-chinnor-to-the-european-champions-in-one-crazy-year/|title=Seb Blake: From Chinnor to the European champions in one crazy year|first=Jamie|last=Lyall|publisher=Rugby Pass|date=20 April 2024|access-date=3 July 2024}}
Blake attended Richard Pate School for his primary education, before beginning at Cheltenham College for his secondary education. Blake joined the Gloucester Rugby pathway at U14 level. Despite having to step away from the game the following year due to injury he returned to the game at the U16 age group. He signed a scholarship contract with Gloucester ahead of the 2020–2021 season to join the club's senior Academy.{{cite web|date=23 July 2020|access-date=15 February 2024|url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/rugby/meet-eight-new-recruits-gloucester-4356313|website=Gloucestershirelive|title= Meet the eight new recruits to Gloucester Rugby's senior Academy ranks|first=Mark|last=Halliwell}}
Career
Blake made his Gloucester Rugby debut in the 2021–22 season, making three appearances in the Premiership Rugby Cup. The following season he made 18 appearances in all competitions, including starting in the 2022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup.{{cite web|url= https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/english-premiership/380407/blake-out-to-make-no-2-slot-his-own/|website=The Rugby Paper|access-date=15 February 2024|title= Blake out to make No.2 slot his own|date=13 August 2023|first=Ben|last=Jaycock}}
In March 2024 Blake came off the bench as Gloucester beat Leicester Tigers to win the 2023–24 Premiership Rugby Cup.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68568282|title=Premiership Rugby Cup final: Gloucester 23-13 Leicester: Gloucester clinch first trophy in nine years|first=Sophie|last=Hurcom|publisher=BBC Sport|date=15 March 2024|access-date=3 July 2024}} Later that season he scored tries during their 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final victory against Ospreys and semi-final win over Benetton.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68803880|title=European Challenge Cup: Gloucester 23-13 Ospreys - Cherry and Whites ease to quarter-final win over Ospreys|first=Stuart|last=Brennan|website=BBC Sport|date=12 April 2024|access-date=3 July 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cv2j80j14xzo|title=Gloucester beat Benetton to reach Challenge Cup final|first=Sophie|last=Hurcom|website=BBC Sport|date=4 May 2024|access-date=3 July 2024}} He started in the final as Gloucester were defeated by Sharks at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 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=3 July 2024}} He had started every league game for Gloucester in the 2024-25 season prior to signing a new contract with the club in late January 2025.{{cite web|website=BBC Sport|url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/cy5kqwy07pyo.amp|accessdate=30 January 2025|title= Hooker Blake signs new Gloucester deal|date=29 January 2025}}
International career
In February 2024 Blake was called up to the England A team.{{cite web|url= https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/steve-borthwick-england-a-squad-dual-qualified-players-t5ggc3mr9|website=The Times|date=15 February 2024|access-date=15 February 2024|title= Steve Borthwick uses England A squad to capture dual-qualified players|first=John|last=Westerby}}{{cite web|url= https://www.planetrugby.com/news/zach-mercer-snubbed-as-england-a-squad-revealed-to-face-portugal|website=Planet Rugby|access-date=15 February 2024|title= Zach Mercer snubbed as England A squad revealed to face Portugal|first=
Jared |last=Wright|date=15 February 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Gloucester Rugby squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blake, Seb}}
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Gloucester Rugby players
Category:People educated at Cheltenham College
Category:Rugby union players from Cheltenham
Category:English people of Australian descent
Category:21st-century English sportsmen
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