Doug Baker (rugby union)

Douglas George Santley Baker (29 November 1929 – 21 December 2022) was an English rugby union player, most notable for taking part in the 1955 British Lions tour to South Africa.[2]

Doug Baker
Birth nameDouglas George Santley Baker
Date of birth(1929-11-29)29 November 1929
Place of birthLas Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
Date of death21 December 2022(2022-12-21) (aged 93)
Place of deathSydney, New South Wales, Australia
SchoolMerchant Taylors' School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half, full-back[1]
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1949–1955
1951–1952
County		 Old Merchant Taylors
Oxford University		 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1955
1955		  England
British & Irish Lions		 4
2		 0
3

Biography

Baker was born in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, Spain. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School and Oxford University, gaining Blues in 1951 and 1952. He also played for his school's old boys club Old Merchant Taylors' FC.[3]

In 1953/54, he played against New Zealand for both London Counties and South-Eastern Counties. He was invited to play for the Barbarian F.C. and played for them eight times between 1953 and 1957, scoring a total of 20 points for the side.[4]

His test debut for England was against Wales at Cardiff, 22 January 1955. He was capped four times for England as a fly-half in 1955. He also took part in the 1955 British Lions tour to South Africa, playing in two tests as a full-back. His first test was against South Africa at Pretoria on 3 September 1955 where he scored a penalty earning 3 points for the Lions in their victory. His second test was against South Africa at Port Elizabeth, 24 September 1955. He was also part of the team who played the East Africa rugby union team as the Lions returned home.[5]

Baker later emigrated to Australia, where he was a schoolteacher at Scotch College, Adelaide. On 21 December 2022, he died at the age of 93.[6][7]

References
  1. ESPN Scrum - England/Players and Officials/Doug Baker
  2. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Doug Baker". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  3. Old Merchant Taylors' Centenary p.26
  4. Barbarian FC Archives
  5. ESPN Match report
  6. "Baker, Douglas George Santley". The Advertiser. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023 – via My Tributes.
  7. "1955 Lion Baker passes away". British & Irish Lions. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
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