Steele Barker

{{short description|English rugby union player (born 2001)}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|1|12|df=y}} {{cite web|url= https://www.ultimaterugby.com/steele-barker|website=Ultimate Rugby|accessdate=4 January 2025|title=Steele Barker}}

| image =

| height = 1.98m{{cite web|url=https://all.rugby/player/steele-barker|website=All.Rugby|accessdate=4 January 2025|title=Steele Barker}}

| birth_place = York

|weight = 120kg

| school =

| university = University of Exeter

| relatives =

| position = Lock

| currentclub = Bristol Bears

| years1 =

| clubs1 = Penryn

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|clubs2 = Redruth

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|years3 = 2021-2024

|clubs3 = Cornish Pirates

|apps3 =

|points3 =

|years4 = 2024-

|clubs4 = Bristol

|apps4 =

|points4 =

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| ru_sevensnationalyears1 =

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}}

Steele Barker (born 12 January 2001) is an English professional rugby union footballer who plays as a second row forward for Bristol Bears.

Early life

Born in York, he was a member of the Yorkshire Carnegie Academy but was released at the age of 18 years-old after being told he was considered to be "too small". He then attended the University of Exeter at the Penryn Campus.{{cite web|title= Barker determined to hit the heights at Bristol|date=1 September 2024|url=https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/429082/barker-determined-to-hit-the-heights-at-bristol/amp/ |website=The Rugby Paper|accessdate=4 January 2025}}

==Career==

He played rugby at Penryn RFC and Redruth RFC prior to joining Cornish Pirates during the 2021-2022 season. He went on to make 35 appearances for Cornish Pirates in the RFU Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.cornish-times.co.uk/sport/pirates-lock-steele-barker-to-join-bristol-bears-682859|website=Cornish Times|accessdate=4 January 2025|title= Pirates lock Steele Barker to join Bristol Bears|date=24 April 2024}}{{cite web|url= https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/345276/steele-barker/amp/|website=The Rugby Paper|accessdate=4 January 2025|title= ROOM 101 - THE YOUNG REDRUTH LOCK TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND|date=5 December 2021}}{{cite web|website=Falmouth Packet|title= Cornish Pirates lock Steele Barker to join Bristol Bears

|date=1 May 2024|url=https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/westcornwall/24289741.cornish-pirates-lock-steele-barker-join-bristol-bears/|accessdate=4 January 2025}}

He signed for Bristol Bears from Cornish Pirates in April 2024.{{cite web|website=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cp3g68ed3zyo|title=Bristol recruit Barker, Doughty and Edwards|accessdate=5 January 2024|date=24 April 2024}} He made his Premiership Rugby debut as a replacement against Saracens on 4 January 2025.{{cite web|url= https://www.premiershiprugby.com/content/round-10-preview-saracens-v-bristol-bears|website=PremiershipRugby|accessdate=4 January 2025|title= ROUND 10 PREVIEW: SARACENS V BRISTOL BEARS|date=3 January 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c9384n99kdno|website=BBC Sport|title= Saracens rebound from heavy loss to beat Bristol|date=4 January 2024|accessdate=4 January 2024}}

References