|
Kurt Thomas Baker (born 7 October 1988) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays in the fullback (and occasionally wing or centre) position for the Otago based Super Rugby franchise the Highlanders, and for New Zealand's Māori international side the Māori All Blacks. Also a current New Zealand Sevens rep, Baker has played in 17 Sevens World Series tournaments, has played in the Rugby Sevens World Cup and featured in Gordon Tietjens squad to take part at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Baker earned himself a Highlanders contract after a superb ITM Cup season in 2010. Starting at fullback, he became a regular try-scoring threat, with the Crusaders he was a member of their wider training group. At provincial level he began his career with Manawatu - his home province - before making the switch to Taranaki in 2010. ==Domestic career== In 2008, Baker was selected in the Manawatu squad to take part in the Air New Zealand Cup competition (NPC). He debuted for Manawatu against Auckland in a Ranfurly Shield match, coming on as a replacement. Baker made his starting debut against Wellington. Baker was one of Manawatu's top try scores with three tries, but was suspended from all rugby for up to eight weeks in the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup after verbally abusing a match official.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title=Baker suspended for eight weeks )〕 In 2010 saw Baker shift north to Taranaki. Starting at fullback against Northland in Week 1 of the competition, he played mainly in that position throughout the season. Baker, joined Manawatu team-mate Andre Taylor, who also signed with the union on a two-year deal. Following the 2010 ITM Cup, Baker joined the Highlanders for the 2011 Super Rugby season. A stress fracture in his back sidelined him in 2011. For Taranaki, Baker continued to be a key contributor, there was a bigger prize at season’s end; the Ranfurly Shield. Heading into the 2012 ITM Cup he had scored nine tries in 19 games for Taranaki. Baker eventually made his debut for the Highlanders in 2012 in the Super Rugby match against the Chiefs in Hamilton. He was a stand out throughout the season, one such try against the Blues in round nine saw him chase a kick at pace to what ended up being the winning try. He went on to play seven matches and score two tries for the Highlanders. He made an immediate impact with his decisive running and ability to spot a gap for Taranaki in 2012. His ability to put a player into space also caught the eye. He finished the year as the first-choice fullback. Baker did not return to the Highlanders for the 2013 Super Rugby season, but instead signed with the Crusaders as a member of their wider training group. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kurt Baker」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|