Willie Walker (rugby union)
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| Birth name | William Charles Aroyn Walker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 19 May 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Ōpōtiki, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 88 kg (194 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Ōpōtiki College King's College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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William Charles Aroyn Walker (born 19 May 1978) is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played for Gloucester and Worcester Warriors in the Guinness Premiership.[1] He has also played for the New Zealand Maori.[1]
Walker is currently the head coach of the Blues Women in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.[2][3]
Walker debuted for North Harbour in 1997.[4] He later played for Otago in 2002 and 2003.[4] He also played for the Highlanders from 2002 to 2003 before going abroad.[4]
Walker joined Gloucester for the start of the 2006/07 season on a 2-year contract from World Fighting Bull. He made 24 appearances in all competitions during his debut season, scoring 220 points. This included 2 tries against Bath & Bristol. In his second season, he made 23 appearances in all competitions, scoring 96 points. He scored 2 tries against Leicester Tigers and Bourgoin. On 22 May 2008, Walker signed a 2-year extension to his contract.
On 13 September 2008, Walker played a key role in Gloucester's victory at The Rec. He scored 1 try, 1 conversion, 2 penalties & 1 drop-goal to help Gloucester to a 21–17 victory.
On 16 May 2009, having played Nine games and scored 74 points whilst on loan to Worcester Warriors from Gloucester, it was officially announced that Walker had signed a 2-year deal with the Warriors, after being released from his contract by the Cherry & Whites.[5][6] This new deal would keep Walker at the Worcester Warriors until 2011.[7]
During his loan spell with Worcester Warriors Walker helped the Warriors achieve a huge derby double over local rivals Gloucester by kicking Worcester to victory both at Sixways and Kingsholm.