Duncan Taylor (rugby union)

Duncan Taylor (born 5 September 1989) is a Scottish Rugby Union player. His regular playing position is centre. He plays for Saracens in the English Premiership.[1]

Duncan Taylor
Taylor in 2017
Birth nameDuncan McWilliam Taylor
Date of birth (1989-09-05) 5 September 1989
Place of birthNorthampton, England
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight92 kg (14 st 7 lb; 203 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing, Fullback
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2012
2012–		 Bedford Blues
Saracens		 17
101		 (35)
(55)
Correct as of 10 June 2017
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013
2013–		 Scotland A
Scotland
23
(17)
Correct as of 17 September 2019

Early life and education

Taylor travelled extensively during his childhood and lived in England, Scotland and Australia. He qualifies for Scotland through his Scottish parents.[2]

Taylor was educated at Davidson Mains Primary School in Edinburgh, Olney Middle School (playing rugby for Olney RFC), Davidson School in Sydney, Australia (playing for Garigal RFC), a return to Olney Middle School, then Ousedale School in Newport Pagnell.[3]

Rugby playing career

Taylor did not play for a county or country junior sides.

Club level

Taylor signed for Bedford Blues aged 17. He then joined Saracens on a dual-registration deal in the summer of 2011.[4]

Mark McCall has described Taylor as an underappreciated player,[5] and as a very popular player in the Saracens squad, and he has been described as a 'player's player.'[6][7] During his time at Saracens he has won two Premiership finals in 2015 and 2016, scoring a try in the 2016 final.[8][9] He also helped Saracens win the European Champions Cup in 2016 and 2017.[10][11]

International level

Taylor first earned international honours representing Scotland A during their 2013 campaign. He scored a famous try in their first ever victory away to England Saxons at the sixth time of trying.[2]

His impressive performances during the 2012–2013 season were rewarded when he was called up the senior Scotland squad for their Summer tour to South Africa.[12] He made his full debut against Samoa later that year.[13]

Playing for a club with a heavy fixture load has on occasion not helped Taylor's international career, at a time when Scotland had many player options at centre.[14]

Injuries

Taylor tore his hamstring during Scotland's 2016 summer tour of Japan. He then had 2 ankle-related operations, shoulder problems, and concussions.[15][16][17] He suffered a head injury in 1/18 and ligament injuries in 9/18. [18][19]

References
  1. "Duncan Taylor Saracens Player Profile". Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  2. "Duncan Taylor Scotland squad profile". Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  3. https://www.scottishrugby.org/squads/scotland-men/duncan-taylor
  4. https://www.saracens.com/squads/duncan-taylor/
  5. https://www.bbc.com/sport/amp/rugby-union/35439212
  6. https://www.premiershiprugby.com/2018/05/16/duncan-taylor-signs-contract-extension-at-saracens/
  7. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2016/05/20/saracens-stars-recognise-duncan-taylors-unheralded-contribution/
  8. "Premiership final: Bath 16-28 Saracens". BBC. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  9. "Premiership final: Saracens 28-20 Exeter Chiefs". BBC. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  10. "Saracens beat Racing 92 to win first European Champions Cup". BBC. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  11. "European Champions Cup: Saracens beat Clermont 28-17 to retain European title". BBC. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  12. "Scotland's Scott Johnson names nine new faces in South Africa squad". The Guardian. London. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  13. https://www.saracens.com/squads/duncan-taylor/
  14. https://www.planetrugby.com/gregor-townsend-explains-duncan-taylor-omission
  15. https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/duncan-taylor-rugby-world-cup-dream-was-light-helped-me-through-injury-hell-1408625?amp
  16. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2018/04/27/duncan-taylor-recovery-concussion-had-come-clean-fully-honest/
  17. https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/scotland/scotland-s-duncan-taylor-on-why-he-no-longer-ignores-head-injuries-1-4793639
  18. https://www.bbc.com/sport/amp/rugby-union/45502170
  19. https://www.premiershiprugby.com/2018/05/16/duncan-taylor-signs-contract-extension-at-saracens/


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