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EXCLUSIVE: Perry Baker dismisses 'word of mouth' rumours of code switch

Perry Baker

Perry Baker, the World’s best sevens player, has dismissed claims he is to sign for Biarritz in France and insists his only target is to help the USA win sevens gold at the Olympic Games in Japan in 2020.

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Only then will Baker, who has been named the HSBC World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year for the last two years, consider offers to break into the 15 man game. Baker is preparing for the Hamilton leg of the World Sevens Series this weekend and told RugbyPass he had received offers to switch to the longer version of the sport but the chance to become a medal winner at the Tokyo Games is keeping him in sevens. Biarritz are planning to revamp their squad to try and regain Top 14 status.

Baker, a former American Football player, has helped the USA into top spot in the Sevens Series and said: “I would not play in France and miss out on the Olympic Games because my dream is to have a medal around my neck. We didn’t get a medal in 2016 and I want to be part of our bid for a medal in Japan. It is my whole reason for going into the 2020 season.

“Right now my focus is on helping the USA finish in the top four of the HSBC World Sevens Series and automatically qualify for the Olympic Games in Japan.

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“Fiji won gold in 2016 and that would be something amazing to hang your hat on and be able to say you are medallist at the Games and the percentage of people around the World who can say that is very small. It is an opportunity you don’t want to miss out on.

“There is a lot of word of mouth about deals in 15s and there are pros and cons about moving. I am open to the idea of playing 15s but feel it would be in the States first, in Major League Rugby which is just about to start its second year as a competition.

“There are new teams coming into MLR and that makes it more attractive for the fans and television audience because unlike the sevens it’s not happening in the early hours around the World. That means more fans and sponsorship getting behind the MLR and you cannot help but be excited with more big cities getting involved.

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“There is talk about the fact I haven’t played 15s but teams are willing to give me a chance and when I came over from American Football I was told wouldn’t make the team. Some teams have reached out to me about playing 15s but it is all about timing.”

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S
SK 14 minutes ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Set pieces are important and the way teams use them is a great indication of how they play the game. No team is showcasing their revolution more than the Springboks. This year they have mauled less and primarily in the attacking third. Otherwise they have tended to set like they are going to maul and then play around the corner or shove the ball out the back. They arent also hitting the crash ball carrier constantly but instead they are choosing to use their width or a big carrying forward in wider areas. While their maul is varied the scrum is still a blunt instrument winning penalties before the backs have a go. Some teams have chosen to blunt their set piece game for more control. The All Blacks are kicking more penalties and are using their powerful scrum as an attacking tool choosing that set piece as an attacking weapon. Their willingness to maul more and in different positions is also becoming more prominent. The French continue to play conservative rugby off the set piece using their big bruisers frequently. The set piece is used differently by different teams. Different teams play different ways and can be successful regardless. They can win games with little territory and possession or smash teams with plenty of both. The game of rugby is for all types and sizes and thats true in the modern era. I hope that administrators keep it that way and dont go further towards a Rugby League style situation. Some administrators are of the opinion that rugby is too slow and needs to be sped up. Why not rather empower teams to choose how they want to play and create a framework that favours neither size nor agility. That favours neither slow tempo play or rock n roll rugby. Create a game that favour both and challenge teams to execute their plans. If World Rugby can create a game like that then it will be the ultimate winner.

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J
JW 5 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Yep, no one knows what will happen. Thing is I think (this is me arguing a point here not a random debate with this one) they're better off trialing it now in a controlled environment than waiting to open it up in a knee jerk style reaction to a crumbling organtization and team. They can always stop it again.


The principle idea is that why would players leave just because the door is ajar?


BBBR decides to go but is not good enough to retain the jersey after doing it. NZ no longer need to do what I suggest by paying him to get back upto speed. That is solely a concept of a body that needs to do what I call pick and stick wth players. NZR can't hold onto everyone so they have to choose their BBBRs and if that player comes back from a sabbatical under par it's a priority to get him upto speed as fast as possible because half of his competition has been let go overseas because they can't hold onto them all. Changing eligibility removes that dilemma, if a BBBR isn't playing well you can be assured that someone else is (well the idea is that you can be more assured than if you only selected from domestic players).


So if someone decides they want to go overseas, they better do it with an org than is going to help improve them, otherwise theyre still basically as ineligible as if they would have been scorning a NZ Super side that would have given them the best chance to be an All Black.

147 Go to comments
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