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| Birth name | Fraser John Balmain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 16 November 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Newcastle upon Tyne, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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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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]
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]
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