Jack Walker (rugby union)

Jack Robert Walker (born 6 May 1996) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Premiership Rugby club Harlequins and the England national team.[1]

Jack Walker
Full nameJack Robert Walker
Date of birth (1996-05-06) 6 May 1996
Place of birthSteeton, England
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight109 kg (240 lb; 17 st 2 lb)
SchoolSettle College, Prince Henry's Grammar School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Current team Harlequins
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2016 Yorkshire Carnegie 33 (5)
2016–2021 Bath 88 (50)
2016 → London Scottish (loan) 1 (0)
2021– Harlequins 44 (15)
Correct as of 28 August 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2016 England U20 21 (10)
2023– England 4 (0)
Correct as of 28 August 2023

Early life

Walker was born in Steeton, West Yorkshire, his father played both Rugby Union and Rugby league.[2] Walker attended Settle College and Prince Henry's Grammar School,[3] he started playing at North Ribblesdale.[2] Walker began playing at fly-half before being moved to the forwards.[2] Walker was awarded the Jaguar Academy of Sport rising star in 2012.[4]

Club career

Walker signed for Yorkshire Carnegie in 2013. He made his debut in October 2013 coming off the bench in a match against Bristol Bears at the age of 17 years and 160 days becoming the youngest forward to appear for Carnegie.[4][5] Walker became the youngest captain of Carnegie in 2015 at the age of 18 years, 256 days.[5][6]

In May 2016 it was announced that Walker had signed with Bath for the 2016/17 season.[5] He came off the bench for the Bath side that lost to Exeter Chiefs in the final of the 2017–18 Anglo-Welsh Cup.[7] In the summer of 2021 Walker joined Harlequins.[8]

International career

Walker has represented the England age groups from U16-U20. He was a member of the team that won the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship and came off the bench in the final against South Africa at Eden Park.[9] The following year saw Walker start all of the matches for England as they won the 2015 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and finished runners up to New Zealand in the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[10][11]

Walker was made captain of the side for the 2016 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and the subsequent 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[8][12] He scored a try during the pool stage against Scotland but was unable to participate in the knockout phase of the tournament due to concussion.[13][14] England won the final of the competition and Walker lifted the trophy alongside Harry Mallinder who had captained in his absence.[15]

In June 2022 Walker received his first call-up to the senior England squad by coach Eddie Jones.[16] Walker was included in the squad for the 2023 Six Nations Championship by new coach Steve Borthwick.[17] An unused substitute in the opening round defeat to Scotland, he made his debut in the next round on 12 February 2023 coming on as a second-half replacement for Jamie George in a victory against Italy at Twickenham.[18]

Honours
England U20
Bath
Individual
  • 1× Jaguar Academy of Sport Rising Star: 2012[4]

References
  1. "Jack Walker club statistics". It's Rugby. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  2. Asprey, Beatrice (3 November 2014). "Hotshots: Leeds Carnegie youngster Jack Walker". Rugby World. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  3. Birkinshaw, Alan (4 February 2016). "Former Prince Henry's rugby player Jack Walker captains England U20s v Scotland". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  4. "Young Gun: Jack Walker – Leeds & England U20 hooker | The Rugby Paper". www.therugbypaper.co.uk. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  5. "Jack Walker: Bath sign England Under-20 hooker from Yorkshire Carnegie". BBC Sport. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  6. "CONFIRMED: Jack Walker joins Bath | The Rugby Paper". www.therugbypaper.co.uk. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  7. Williams, Adam (30 March 2018). "Anglo-Welsh Cup final: Bath 11-28 Exeter Chiefs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  8. "Jack Walker: Harlequins sign ex-Bath hooker". BBC Sport. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  9. Rees, Paul (20 June 2014). "England beat South Africa 21-20 to win the Junior World Championship". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  10. Malin, Ian (20 March 2015). "England win Under-20 Six Nations title for fourth time in five years". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  11. Kitson, Robert (19 June 2015). "World Rugby Under-20 Championship final: New Zealand v England who's who". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  12. "Yorkshire Carnegie's Jack Walker to enjoy '˜huge privilege' of captaining England Under-20s". Yorkshire Evening Post. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  13. Middleton, Nathan (11 June 2016). "World Rugby U20 Championship 2016: England win while Ireland stun New Zealand". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  14. "England U20 name team to play South Africa". Premiership Rugby. 19 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  15. Field, Katie (27 June 2016). "U20 World Cup: Scouting Report Round Five". Rugby World. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  16. Jones, Chris (13 June 2022). "England v Barbarians: Danny Care recalled after four-year absence". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  17. Jones, Chris (16 January 2023). "England Six Nations squad: Billy Vunipola, Jonny May & Jack Nowell left out by Steve Borthwick". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  18. Purewal, Nick (12 February 2023). "England player ratings vs Italy". Evening Standard. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
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