Taylor Welch

{{Infobox rugby league biography

| first = RL

| name = Taylor Arden Welch

| fullname = Taylor Arden Welch

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|11|1}}

| birth_place = Dallas, Texas, United States

| height = {{convert|183|cm|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}}

| weight = {{convert|98|kg|lb|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}

| position = {{rlp|FB|WG|CE}}

| club1 = Warrington Wolves

| year1start = 2008

| year1end =

| appearances1 = 1

| tries1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| fieldgoals1 = 0

| points1 = 0

| club2 = {{nowrap|New York Raiders}}

| year2start =

| year2end =

| appearances2 = 0

| tries2 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| fieldgoals2 = 0

| points2 = 0

| club3 = {{nowrap|Townsville Blackhawks}}

| year3start = 2014

| year3end =

| appearances3 = 0

| tries3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| fieldgoals3 = 0

| points3 = 0

| club4 = Rochdale Hornets

| year4start = 2018

| year4end = present

| appearances4 = 2

| tries4 = 0

| goals4 = 0

| fieldgoals4 = 0

| points4 = 0

| teamA = United States

| yearAstart = 2013

| yearAend =

| appearancesA = 3

| triesA = 1

| goalsA = 0

| fieldgoalsA = 0

| pointsA = 4

| retired =

| ru_club1 = {{nowrap|Fylde RFC}}

| ru_year1start =

| ru_year1end =

| ru_appearances1 = 0

| ru_tries1 = 0

| ru_goals1 = 0

| ru_fieldgoals1 = 0

| ru_points1 = 0

| ru_club2 = {{nowrap|Pays d'Aix RC}}

| ru_year2start =

| ru_year2end =

| ru_appearances2 = 0

| ru_tries2 = 0

| ru_goals2 = 0

| ru_fieldgoals2 = 0

| ru_points2 = 0

| ru_club3 = {{nowrap|Chicago Griffins RFC}}

| ru_year3start =

| ru_year3end =

| ru_appearances3 = 0

| ru_tries3 = 0

| ru_goals3 = 0

| ru_fieldgoals3 = 0

| ru_points3 = 0

|source = {{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/taylor-welch/|title=Profile at loverugbyleague.com|publisher=loverugbyleague.com|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/taylor-welch/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}

| updated = July 28, 2021

}}

Taylor Welch (born November 1, 1989) is an American rugby player who played one professional rugby league match for the Warrington Wolves in the Super League in 2008. Welch was selected to represent the United States national team at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Background

Welch was born in Dallas, Texas, United States. He and his father relocated to Warrington, Cheshire, England in 2003, following the death of his mother. He attended Crosfields School and Lymm High School.

Playing career

Having played American football in his youth, he transitioned to rugby union in school and was convinced to try rugby league by the Warrington Wolves head coach Paul Cullen, joining the team's youth academy. Playing as a {{rlp|wg}}, his under 18s début initially was held back due to his classification as an overseas player, an issue finally resolved with special dispensation from the Rugby Football League.{{cite web|last=Flanagan|first=Chris|date=August 29, 2008|title=American dream is Taylor made|url=http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sport/wolves/wolvesnews/3626664.American_dream_is_Taylor_made/|publisher=Warrington Guardian}}

In 2008, Welch was drafted onto Warrington's 19-man roster to cover for an injured Chris Riley. Riley was cleared to play, however Welch had trained so well that he was selected to the 13-man playing roster ahead of teammate Kevin Penny for the game against the Castleford Tigers. He is thought to have become the first American to play for Warrington Wolves and the first ever to play in the Super League.

Welch has continued to play rugby union. He was selected in the United States training squad for the Rugby Union NAWIRA Sevens Qualifiers in the Bahamas.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisischeshire.co.uk/sport/4465728.Wolves_Reserves_and_Academy_updates|title=Wolves Reserves and Academy Updates|publisher=thisischeshire.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}} He has played for Fylde Rugby Club, Pays d'Aix RC in Pro D2 and Sale F.C., and applied for U.K. citizenship to enable him to count as a player in Super League.{{cite web|url=http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/Latest-News/taylor-welch-joins-fylde.html|title=Taylor Welch Joins Fylde|publisher=fylderugby.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}} Welch subsequently relocated back to the United States. He has continued playing rugby with the New York Raiders of the American National Rugby League and the Chicago Griffins rugby union team, and has trained with the startup Chicago Stockyarders.{{cite web|url=http://80thminute.com/?p=876|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130703185320/http://80thminute.com/?p=876|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 July 2013|title=Taylor Welch 876|publisher=80thminute.com|date=31 December 2017|accessdate=1 January 2018}}

In October 2014, Welch signed with the semi-professional Townsville Blackhawks for their inaugural season in Australia's Queensland Cup.{{cite web|date=October 20, 2014|title=Blackhawks Sign 6 Players|url=https://blackhawkstsv.com.au/2014/10/20/blackhawks-sign-6-players/|publisher=blackhawks.tv|accessdate=September 22, 2017}}{{cite news|last=Thompson|first=Michael|date=January 8, 2015|title=Townsville Blackhawks signing Taylor Welch a long way from America, but he feels at home|url=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/townsville-blackhawks-signing-taylor-welch-a-long-way-from-america-but-he-feels-at-home/news-story/70764b2bb55cde35b0348fbf97e6068c|newspaper=Townsville Bulletin|accessdate=September 22, 2017}}