Fraser Balmain
English rugby union player (born 1991)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fraser John Balmain (born 16 November 1991)[1] is an English professional rugby union player who plays prop forward for Saracens in Premiership Rugby. He previously played for Gloucester and Leicester Tigers.[2]
16 November 1991
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne
Balmain playing for Leicester on November 18, 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Fraser John Balmain 16 November 1991 Newcastle upon Tyne, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 117 kg (18 st 6 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Newlands School Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Loughborough University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career
Balmain joined Leicester Tigers in July 2010 after being released from Newcastle Falcons academy and turning down an academy contract from Northampton Saints.[3] On 12 November 2010 he made his Leicester debut from the bench during an Anglo-Welsh Cup game against Ospreys in Bridgend.[4] He had to wait two years though to make his first start against the New Zealand Maori on 13 November 2012.[5]
Balmain played as a replacement during the 2013 Premiership final as Leicester defeated Northampton Saints.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8]
On 10 January 2017, Balmain left Leicester to join Premiership rivals Gloucester ahead of the 2017–18 season.[9] 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.[10] The following campaign saw the cherry and whites reach the league play-offs and their elimination at the semi-final stage.[11] 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.[12]
After over 100 appearances for Gloucester, in June 2024 Balmain joined Saracens.[13] After a season at Saracens, Balmain would leave the club to join the revamped Worcester Warriors in the RFU Championship from the 2025-26 season.[14]
