Taylor Welch
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born |
November 1, 1989 Dallas, Texas, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 14 st 2 lb; 198 lb (90 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback, Wing, Centre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of November 3, 2013 Source: Rugby League Project | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Taylor Welch (born November 1, 1989) is an American rugby league and rugby union footballer, who plays for Oxford Rugby League. Currently playing for the USA in the current Rugby League World Cup. His previous clubs are Chicago Stockyarders in the American National Rugby League (AMNRL) and for the Chicago Griffins RFC. He was with the Warrington Wolves from U16's to first grade. He début against Castle ford with Warrington Wolves rugby league team in 2008, becoming the first American ever to play in the Super League.
Playing career
Welch was born in Dallas, Texas. In 2003, Welch and his father relocated to Warrington, England following the death of his mother. He attended Crosfields School and Lymm High School. Having played American football in his youth, he transitioned to rugby union in school and was convinced to try rugby league by Warrington Wolves head coach Paul Cullen, joining the team's youth academy. Playing as a winger, his Under 18s début initially was held back due to his classification as an overseas player, an issue finally resolved with special dispensation from the Rugby Football League.[1]
In 2008, Welch was drafted onto Warrington's 19-man roster to cover for an injured Chris Riley. Riley was cleared to play, however Welch had trained so well that he was selected to the 13-man playing roster ahead of teammate Kevin Penny for the game against the Castleford Tigers. He is thought to have become the first American to play for Warrington and the first ever to play in the Super League.[1]
Welch has continued to play rugby union. He was selected in the American training squad for the Rugby Union NAWIRA Sevens Qualifiers in the Bahamas.[2] He has played for Fylde Rugby Club, Pays d'Aix RC in Pro D2, and Sale F.C., and applied for U.K. citizenship to enable him to count as a European player in Super League.[3] Welch subsequently relocated back to the United States. He has continued playing rugby with the New York Raiders of the American National Rugby League and the Chicago Griffins rugby union team, and has trained with the startup Chicago Stockyarders.[4]
On October 16, 2014, Welch signed with the newly formed Townsville Blackhawks in Australia's Queensland Cup.