Fraser Balmain

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]

Fraser Balmain

Birth name	Fraser John Balmain
Date of birth	(1991-11-16) 16 November 1991 (age 33)
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
Position(s) Tighthead Prop Current team Saracens Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2011–2017 Leicester Tigers 96 (10) 2017–2024 Gloucester 139 (60) 2024– Saracens 0 (0) Correct as of 13 June 2024 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2014 England XV 1 (0) Correct as of 1 June 2014

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]

Honours

Leicester

• 1× Premiership Rugby: 2012–13^[6]
• 1× Anglo-Welsh Cup: 2016–17^[8]

Gloucester

• 2× EPCR Challenge Cup runner up: 2017–18,^[10] 2023–24^[12]