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Duncan Taylor (rugby union)

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Duncan Taylor
Taylor in 2017
Birth nameDuncan McWilliam Taylor
Date of birth (1989-09-05) 5 September 1989 (age 35)
Place of birthNorthampton, England
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight100 kg (15 st 10 lb; 220 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing, Fullback
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2012 Bedford Blues 17 (35)
2012–2023 Saracens 157 (75)
Correct as of 21 June 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 Scotland A
2013–2020 Scotland 28 (17)
Correct as of 17 September 2019

Duncan Taylor (born 5 September 1989) is a Scottish retired professional rugby union player. His regular playing position was centre. He played for Saracens in Premiership Rugby[1] between 2012 and 2023, during this period the club won several Premiership's and three European Cups.

Early life and education

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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

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

Club level

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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 three Premiership finals in 2015, 2016 and 2023, scoring a try in the 2016 final.[8][9][10] He also helped Saracens win the European Champions Cup in 2016 and 2017.[11][12] On 9 May 2023, it was announced Taylor would be leaving Saracens.[13]

International level

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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.[14] He made his full debut against Samoa later that year.[15]

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.[16]

Injuries

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Taylor tore his hamstring during Scotland's 2016 summer tour of Japan. He then had 2 ankle-related operations, shoulder problems, and concussions.[17][18][19] He suffered a head injury in 1/18 and ligament injuries in 9/18. [20][21]

References

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  1. ^ "Duncan Taylor Saracens Player Profile". Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Duncan Taylor Scotland squad profile". Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  3. ^ "Duncan Taylor". Scottish Rugby Union. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  4. ^ McCall, Bryn (3 July 2019). "Duncan Taylor". Saracens. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Duncan Taylor: Scotland centre signs new Saracens contract". BBC Sport. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Duncan Taylor signs contract extension at Saracens".
  7. ^ Schofield, Daniel (20 May 2016). "Saracens stars recognise unheralded contribution of 'players' player' Duncan Taylor". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  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. ^ "Premiership final: Saracens 35-25 Sale - Sarries win sixth title in Twickenham thriller". BBC. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Saracens beat Racing 92 to win first European Champions Cup". BBC. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  12. ^ "European Champions Cup: Saracens beat Clermont 28-17 to retain European title". BBC. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Duncan Taylor: Scotland centre to leave Saracens at end of season". BBC Sport. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Scotland's Scott Johnson names nine new faces in South Africa squad". The Guardian. London. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  15. ^ McCall, Bryn (3 July 2019). "Duncan Taylor". Saracens. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  16. ^ Kyriacou, Adam (16 January 2020). "Gregor Townsend explains Duncan Taylor omission". PlanetRugby. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Duncan Taylor: Rugby World Cup dream was light that helped me through injury hell". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  18. ^ Mairs, Gavin (27 April 2018). "Duncan Taylor on his recovery from concussion - 'I had to come clean and be fully honest with everyone'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Scotland's Duncan Taylor on why he no longer ignores head injuries". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Duncan Taylor: Saracens' Scotland centre out for season after double cruciate rupture". BBC Sport. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  21. ^ "Duncan Taylor signs contract extension at Saracens".
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