Fraser Balmain

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Fraser Balmain
Fraser Balmain.jpg
Balmain playing for Leicester on November 18, 2012
Birth nameFraser John Balmain
Date of birth (1991-11-16) 16 November 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight117 kg (18 st 6 lb)
SchoolNewlands School
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne
University Loughborough University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Tighthead Prop
Current team Saracens
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2011–2017 Leicester Tigers 96 (10)
2017–2024 Gloucester 139 (60)
2024–2025 Saracens 8 (0)
2025– Worcester Warriors 0 (0)
Correct as of 13 June 2024
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2014 England XV 1 (0)
Correct as of 1 June 2014

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]

Contents

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]

Honours

Leicester
Gloucester

References

  1. ↑ "Fraser Balmain". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Leicester Tigers Senior Squad - Fraser Balmain". web page. Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Tigers pounce for ex-Falcon Fraser". The Journal. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "Tigers will learn from cup experience". Leicester Tigers. 14 November 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "Tigers celebrate famous win over Maori All Blacks". Leicester Tigers. 13 November 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  6. 1 2 Osborne, Chris (25 May 2013). "Aviva Premiership final: Leicester 37-17 Northampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  7. ↑ Chase, Graham (1 June 2014). "England XV 29-39 Barbarians". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Anglo-Welsh Cup final: Exeter Chiefs 12-16 Leicester Tigers". BBC Sport. 19 March 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  9. ↑ "Fraser Balmain and Val Rapava Ruskin: Gloucester sign props for next season". BBC Sport. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  10. 1 2 Pritchard, Dafydd (11 May 2018). "European Challenge Cup final: Cardiff Blues 31-30 Gloucester". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  11. ↑ Pilnick, Brent (25 May 2019). "Premiership semi-final: Saracens crush Gloucester 44-19 to reach fifth final in six years". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  12. 1 2 Hurcom, Sophie (24 May 2024). "Sharks overpower Gloucester to win Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  13. ↑ "Saracens sign prop Balmain from Gloucester". BBC Sport. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  14. ↑ "Fraser Balmain: Saracens prop to leave club for Worcester Warriors". BBC Sport. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
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