{{Short description|English rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}} {{Use British English|date=September 2016}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Alex Waller | image = Alex Waller 2013 (cropped).jpg | caption = Waller playing for Northampton Saints in 2013 | birth_name = Alexander Marshall Waller<ref name="ESPN">{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/player/102086.html |title=Alex Waller |publisher=ESPN Scrum |accessdate=16 January 2014}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|2|14}}<ref name="Saints profile">{{cite web |url=http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/Rugby/Profiles/profile.aspx?TeamID=100969&PersonID=151360 |title=Alex Waller |publisher=Northampton Saints |accessdate=16 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116185620/http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/Rugby/Profiles/profile.aspx?TeamID=100969&PersonID=151360 |archive-date=16 January 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | birth_place = Kettering, England | height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="ESPN"/> | weight = {{convert|118|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}<ref name="ESPN"/> | ru_position = Prop | school = Wellingborough School<ref>{{cite web |title=Waller: rugby can help development on and off the pitch |url=https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/waller-rugby-can-help-development-on-and-off-the-pitch |website=Northampton Saints |access-date=8 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref> | university = | relatives = Ethan Waller (brother) | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | ru_amupdate = | years1 = 2009–2024 | clubs1 = {{nowrap|Northampton Saints}} | apps1 = 370 | points1 = 110 | repyears1 = 2014–2015 | repteam1 = England A | repcaps1 = 3 | reppoints1 = 0 | repyears2 = 2015 | repteam2 = England XV | repcaps2 = 1 | reppoints2 = 0 | ru_clubupdate = 8 June 2024 | ru_ntupdate = 7 June 2017 }}
'''Alexander Marshall Waller''' (born 14 February 1990) is an English former rugby union player who played as a prop for his whole career with Northampton Saints.
== Club career == Born in Kettering, Waller is a product of the Northampton Saints Academy and made his debut in November 2009 against Ospreys.<ref name="Saints profile"/> Waller came off the bench as a substitute replacement for Soane Tongaʻuiha in the 2011 Heineken Cup final at the Millennium Stadium which they lost against Leinster to finish runners up.<ref name="ecc">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/13473241|title=Leinster 33-22 Northampton|first=Bryn|last=Palmer|work=BBC Sport|date=21 May 2011|access-date=18 August 2025}}</ref>
Waller soon established himself in the Saints' first team and featured in their double winning season five years after his first run out in a Saints shirt. The young prop came off the bench as a substitute in the 2013–14 European Challenge Cup final which saw Northampton beat Bath at Cardiff Arms Park to lift the trophy.<ref name="eprc">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/27489558|title=Amlin Challenge Cup final: Bath 16-30 Northampton|first=Chris|last=Osborne|work=BBC Sport|date=22 May 2014|access-date=1 June 2014}}</ref> A week later Waller scored the winning try in extra time of the Premiership final as Northampton defeated Saracens at Twickenham to become league champions for the first time in their history.<ref name="prem14">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/27590375|title=Premiership final: Saracens 20-24 Northampton Saints|first=Nabil|last=Hassan|work=BBC Sport|date=31 May 2014|access-date=1 June 2014}}</ref>
Waller helped Northampton secure European Champions Cup rugby for 2017–18 as Saints beat Stade Français in the European Champions Cup play-off final to claim the last spot in the top-tier of Europe for the following season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/saints-23-stade-francais-22-friday-night-may-lights-strike-again|publisher=Northampton Saints|title=Saints 23 Stade Français 22: Friday night May lights strike again|date=26 May 2017|accessdate=7 June 2017}}</ref> Waller became a regular fixture in the Saints team and in the 2017–18 campaign racked up his 150th consecutive appearance in the Premiership to take the record for the most consecutive appearances in the league’s history.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BUMswEpjlwh/ | title=Premiership Rugby on Instagram: "It's been quite an #AvivaPrem season for @alexwaller01 at @officialnorthamptonsaints #northampton #saints #rugby #rugbyunion #rugbygram #rugbyfamily" }}</ref> He also turned out for his 200th appearance in a Saints shirt that season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/west-pays-tribute-to-waller-achievement/|title = Premiership Rugby |}}</ref>
In August 2018 Waller was named club co-captain.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45251586|work=BBC Sport|title=Northampton Saints: Dylan Hartley and Alex Waller to share captaincy|date=20 August 2018|accessdate=18 August 2025}}</ref> That season he captained the Northampton side that won the Premiership Rugby Cup.<ref name="prc">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/47540696|title=Premiership Rugby Cup Final: Northampton beat Saracens with three first-half tries|website=BBC Sport|date=17 March 2019|access-date=18 August 2025}}</ref>
Waller played in their 2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup semi-final elimination against Leinster.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c3g8wgdvkn7o|title=Leinster beat Saints to make Euro final with Lowe treble|first=Jonathan|last=Bradley|website=BBC Sport|date=4 May 2024|accessdate=18 August 2025}}</ref> The following month he started in the 2024 Premiership final which saw Northampton defeat Bath to become league champions for the first time in a decade.<ref name="prem24">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c3ggrkk9d42o|title=Northampton hold off 14-man Bath in Premiership final|first=Sophie|last=Hurcom|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 June 2024|access-date=18 August 2025}}</ref> Ultimately this was his last game as he retired from rugby at the end of that season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68664998|work=BBC Sport|title=Alex Waller: Northampton Saints prop to retire at end of season|date=26 March 2024|accessdate=18 August 2025}}</ref>
== International career == In January 2014, Waller was named as an injury replacement in the England A squad for the game against Ireland Wolfhounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/january/news-articles/170114_saxons_to_play_wolfhounds |title=Rokoduguni named in exciting Saxons squad |publisher=Rugby Football Union |accessdate=18 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140120162045/http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/january/news-articles/170114_saxons_to_play_wolfhounds |archivedate=20 January 2014 }}</ref> The call up marked his first inclusion in any of England's representative teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/News/TabId/90/ArtMID/526/ArticleID/4542/Waller-called-up-into-Saxons-training-squad.aspx |title=Waller called up into Saxons training squad |publisher=Northampton Saints |accessdate=18 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140120162910/http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/News/TabId/90/ArtMID/526/ArticleID/4542/Waller-called-up-into-Saxons-training-squad.aspx |archivedate=20 January 2014 }}</ref> He made his debut in the match as England slipped to a 14–8 defeat,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/25895164|work=BBC Sport|title=England Saxons 8–14 Ireland Wolfhounds|date=25 January 2024|access-date=29 January 2014}}</ref> and earned a second cap the following week in a draw against Scotland A.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/match_report/0,20244,11069_64209_1,00.html |title=England Saxons and Scotland A play out draw in Glasgow |publisher=Sky Sports |accessdate=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223070220/http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/match_report/0%2C20244%2C11069_64209_1%2C00.html |archivedate=23 February 2014 }}</ref>
In May 2014, Waller was among a group of 16 players called up after the Premiership Final to join up with the senior England squad for their three Test summer tour of New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12504/9335008/northampton-prop-alex-waller-added-to-england-squad-for-new-zealand-tour|title=Northampton prop Alex Waller added to England squad for New Zealand tour|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2 June 2024|accessdate=4 June 2014}}</ref>
Waller was named on the bench for a non-capped England XV game against the Barbarians at Twickenham on 31 May 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/32943613|title=England 73-12 Barbarians|first=Chris|last=Osborne|work=BBC Sport|date=31 May 2015|access-date=31 May 2015}}</ref>
== Honours == ;Northampton Saints *Premiership winner: 2013–2014,<ref name="prem14"/> 2023–2024<ref name="prem24"/> *EPCR Challenge Cup winner: 2013–2014<ref name="eprc"/> * Premiership Rugby Cup winner: 2018–2019<ref name="prc"/> * European Rugby Champions Cup runner-up: 2010–2011<ref name="ecc"/>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Alex Waller}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140116185620/http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/Rugby/Profiles/profile.aspx?TeamID=100969&PersonID=151360 Alex Waller profile] at Northampton Saints
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waller, Alex}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:English rugby union players Category:Northampton Saints players Category:Rugby union players from Kettering Category:Rugby union props Category:People educated at Wellingborough School Category:21st-century English sportsmen