| Birth name | Billy Walker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 27 September 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 124 kg (273 lb; 19 st 7 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Oaklands College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Billy Walker (b. 1996) is a rugby union tighthead prop, currently playing for Cambridge RFC. He has previously played for premiership team Saracens, and has U18 and U20 English international honours.
Youth and amateur career
Walker's first rugby was played at local Chelmsford RFC, in their most junior youth team, the U6s, where he was coached by his father, playing with Chelmsford up to U16.[2][3] He would also play for Essex county between U13 & U14s.
He was identified for the Saracens junior academy at the age of 14, where he would do a weekly training session until the age of 16, before moving to more full time training with the senior academy. His first year of senior rugby was played with Bishop's Stortford, then in National league 2, where he praised the benefits of playing against older players and being educated in "the tricks of the trade".[2]
Professional career
On turning 19, Walker moved to play a season with Saracens' dual registration team, Bedford Blues, in the Championship. He would also play games with National League 2 team Ampthill, one of two players to act as a trial use of Ampthill as a dual-registration side.[2][4]
In early 2016 Walker ruptured his plantar plate in his foot and was out of action for 4 months after undergoing surgery.[3]
In November 2016 Walker played his 1st team Saracens debut against Newcastle Falcons, in the LV Cup, after being picked but not played the previous week against Gloucester.[1]
Alongside scattered 1st team games, Walker played the 2017/18 season with Old Albanians. He would also gain a Business Planning Foundation degree.[5]
At the end of the 2018/19 season, Walker announced his move to Nottingham RFC, in order to guarantee regular 1st team gameplay.[5]
International career
Walker was selected for the England U18 team and played his debut against France before playing in all games of the 3-match tour to South Africa.[6]
After missing the U20 6 nations due to his ruptured plantar plate, he was able to return to training a month earlier than anticipated, making him eligible to be picked for the U20 world championship. He would perform successfully, including playing in the final defeating Ireland to win the tournament.[7]
References
- 1 2 "Billy Walker Stats and History". Statsbunker. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- 1 2 3 Nick Verdier (12 February 2016). "Young Gun: Billy Walker – England U20s and Saracens prop". Rugby Paper. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- 1 2 Katie Field (19 January 2017). "Hotshot: Saracens prop Billy Walker". Rugby World. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- ↑ "Ampthill & Saracens Partnership". June 2015.
- 1 2 "Walker to Join Nottingham Rugby". Saracens. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- ↑ "Billy Walker Overview". Ultimate Rugby. June 2016.
- ↑ Alex Shaw (26 March 2019). "England's 2016 U20 World Champion side - where are they now?". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 11 August 2019.