Sam Walker (rugby union)

Sam Walker

Birth name	Samuel Walker
Date of birth	21 April 1912
Place of birth	Belfast, Ireland
Date of death	20 January 1972(1972-01-20) (aged 59)
Place of death	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Occupation(s)	Banker
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1934-1938 Instonians () 1934-? Barbarian F.C. () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1934–1938 Ireland 15 (7) 1938 British Isles XV 3 (0)

Samuel Walker (21 April 1912 – 20 January 1972) was an Irish rugby union player. Walker played club rugby for Instonians and played international rugby for Ireland and was captain of the British Isles team in their 1938 tour of South Africa.

Rugby career

Walker came to note as a rugby player when he represented Instonians. During the 1934/35 season, he was also selected to play for invitational tourists, the Barbarians. He won his first international cap when he was selected for the Irish national team during the 1934 Home Nations Championship. he won 15 caps for his country between 1934 and 1938, and captained the team in his final international game, against Wales, at Swansea.

In 1938, he was selected to captain the British & Irish Lions team on their tour of South Africa. He is recognised as an able captain, who managed to sustain good morale in a Lions team that was devastated by injuries. He also fostered an open style of play that resulted in exciting and free scoring matches, which delighted the South African spectators. Walker showed excellent fitness himself during the tour, and was able to lead the British & Irish Lions team out for 17 invitational games and all three Tests against the South African national team. On the tour he usually played his favoured role as prop, alongside Bunner Travers.

References

• Griffiths, John (1987). The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records. London: Phoenix House. ISBN 0-460-07003-7.
• Griffiths, John (1990). British Lions. Swindon: Crowood Press. ISBN 1-85223-541-1.