Dan Baker (rugby union)

Dan Baker
Birth nameDan Baker
Date of birth (1992-07-05) 5 July 1992 (age 32)
Place of birthNeath, Wales
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight114 kg (17 st 13 lb; 251 lb)
SchoolCwmtawe Comprehensive School
Neath College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8
Current team Aberavon RFC
Youth career
  Ystradgynlais RFC
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2013 Swansea 46 (70)
2013–2020 Ospreys 92 (100)
2020–2021 Stade Montois 8 (0)
2021–2022 Dragons 11 (5)
2022– Aberavon 3 (5)
Correct as of 13 October 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 Wales U20 8 (5)
2013–2015 Wales 3 (0)
Correct as of 15 October 2022

Dan Baker (born 5 July 1992) is a Wales international rugby union player. A back row forward, he plays for Ystradgynlais RFC having previously played for the Dragons, Stade Montois, Ospreys and Aberavon RFC

Club career

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Baker came through the Ospreys grade age system, beginning with Ystradgynlais RFC. He played for Swansea RFC, before makes his debut for the Ospreys in January 2013 in an Anglo-Welsh Cup fixture against the Dragons.[1] He signed a contract extension with the Ospreys in April 2014.[2] In November 2015, he signed a National Dual Contract with the Ospreys and the Welsh Rugby Union.[3] Baker signed another extension with the Ospreys in November 2016.[1]

Baker was named as man of the match in a Pro12 match against Connacht on 7 January 2017, scoring a try in the win.[4] He suffered a serious knee injury on 15 October 2017, and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.[5] Baker ultimately did not return until September 2019.[6]

Baker departed the Ospreys in 2020 for Pro D2 club Stade Montois.[7] He joined the Dragons in February 2021 initially to play until the end of the season, but was later signed for the following season.[8] Baker was released by the Dragons in 2022, and subsequently joined Aberavon RFC.[9] Baker returned to home town club Ystradgynlais RFC for the 2023-24 season.

International career

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Baker was selected for Wales U20 for the 2012 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[10] He was part of the Wales U20 team that beat New Zealand U20 in the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship, their first win over New Zealand at that age level, and a first Welsh win over a New Zealand national team since 1953.[11]

In May 2013 he was selected in the Wales national rugby union team 32 man training squad for the summer 2013 tour to Japan.[12] He made his international debut against Japan on 8 June 2013.[13]

Baker made his third appearance for Wales on 8 August 2015, in a World Cup warm up match against Ireland.[14] He was ultimately not selected for the final squad.[15]

Baker was selected by caretaker coach Rob Howley in the squad for the 2016 end-of-year rugby union internationals, but did not appear in any of the match day squads, and ultimately gained no further caps for Wales.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Baker signs new Ospreys deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  2. ^ "New deal for Baker". PlanetRugby. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Baker and Thornton sign dual deals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Ospreys 29-7 Connacht: Welsh side move top of PRO12". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Ospreys: Injured back row forward Dan Baker out for season". BBC Sports. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  6. ^ Orders, Mark (11 September 2019). "The forgotten Wales international set to resume his career after 699 days". WalesOnline. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Dan Baker: Wales back row leaves Ospreys for France's Stade Montois". BBC Sport. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Gonzalo Bertranou and Dan Baker sign new Dragons deals". 13 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Wales international signs for semi-pro club at 11th hour and says team-mate was 's**t on'". 27 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Wales U20s squad announced - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  11. ^ Howell, Andy (8 June 2012). "New Zealand under-20 6 - 9 Wales under-20: Young guns create history". WalesOnline. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  12. ^ Wales squad. BBC Sport
  13. ^ Wales debut
  14. ^ Rees, Paul (8 August 2015). "Ireland run in five tries to crush Wales in World Cup warmup". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Wales' World Cup squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  16. ^ Doel, Jon (18 October 2016). "Wales rugby squad announcement LIVE". WalesOnline. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
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