{{short description|English rugby union player}} {{for|the South African cricketer|Gavin Fraser (cricketer)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use British English|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Gavin Fraser | image = | birth_name = Gavin Fraser | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|02|23|df=yes}} | birth_place = Liverpool, Merseyside, England | height = {{height|ft=5|in=3}} | weight = {{convert|85|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} | position = Wing | repteam1 = Scotland U21 | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | repyears1 = | years1 = 1997-98 | clubs1 = Glasgow Warriors | apps1 = 4 | points1 = 0 | ru_clubupdate = | amatyears1 = 1990-91 | amatyears2 = 1991-95 | amatyears3 = 1995-96 | amatyears4 = 1996-97 | amatyears5 = 1997-1998 | amatyears6 = 1998-2000 | amatteam1 = Hull Ionians | amatteam2 = Waterloo | amatteam3 = London Scottish | amatteam4 = London Irish | amatteam5 = Kilmarnock RFC | amatteam6 = Watsonians RFC | ru_amupdate = | provinceyears1 = 1992-96 | province1 = Scottish Exiles | provinceapps1 = | provincepoints1 = | repsevensyears1 = | repsevenscomp1 = | school = Merchant Taylors' Boys' School, Crosby | university = University of Lincoln | ru_ntupdate = }}
'''Gavin Fraser''' (born 23 February 1972 in Liverpool, England) is an English-born, former Scotland Under 21 international, Scottish rugby union player who played for Glasgow Warriors at the Wing positions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epcrugby.com/statistics/player_archive.php?includeref=dynamic&player=2888|title=Player Archive : Statistics - EPCR - Official Website|work=epcrugby.com|access-date=20 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320103204/http://www.epcrugby.com/statistics/player_archive.php?includeref=dynamic&player=2888|archive-date=20 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Biography== Gavin Fraser was Scottish-Qualified as his father, Gordon, was born in Scotland. Gordon Fraser moved to England in the 1960s settling in Corby, Northamptonshire, a town dubbed 'Little Scotland' due to the number of Scots that settled there. Gavin went to Merchant Taylors' Boys' School, Crosby and then, later, the University of Lincoln.
In 1990-91 season he played for Hull Ionians,<ref name="sportinggenes.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.sportinggenes.com/gavinfraser.html|title=Gavin Fraser|publisher=|access-date=20 January 2016|archive-date=29 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129150602/http://sportinggenes.com/gavinfraser.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> but quickly moved to another amateur club Waterloo.<ref name="heraldscotland.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12580369.What_a_start_for_Exiles_apos__new_coach/|title=What a start for Exiles' new coach|work=Herald Scotland}}</ref>
Fraser was selected to play for the Scottish Exiles Under 21 amateur district team in 1992 in the Under 21 Scottish Inter-District Championship.<ref name="heraldscotland.com"/> He later played for the full Scottish Exiles side, and won the Exiles first Championship in 1995.<ref name="sportinggenes.com"/>
He represented Scotland at Under 21 grade<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.sandbachrufc.co.uk/sandbachrufc/website.nsf/0e2da2b847bac4f7802569db004324e0/b8841d8fd7a9931080256e7400701c81!OpenDocument|title=Sandbach RUFC|publisher=}}</ref> but never reached a full Senior cap<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/sporting-achievement-run-family-evidence-8907208|title=Does sporting achievement run in the family? The evidence which suggests it does|author=David Prentice|date=24 March 2015|work=liverpoolecho}}</ref> though later made a Scotland Development XV side.<ref name="sportinggenes.com"/>
Moving from Waterloo, Fraser naturally signed for London Scottish. This move only was to last for one season before he moved on to another 'Exile' club.
He played for London Irish for one season: 1996-97<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rugby.statbunker.com/players/GetHistoryStats?player_id=6881&comps_type=8217249&comps_id=-1|title=Gavin Fraser Record by competition Aviva Premiership Rugby|work=Statbunker}}</ref> but moved from there to join Glasgow Warriors.
Fraser began his Glasgow career by playing in the pre-season friendly match against the Australian Super Rugby side Brumbies. Glasgow lost the match 6 - 22 and were unable to prevent the Australians' clean sweep against Scotland's district sides.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12348247.Glasgow_fail_to_halt_the_tourists/|title=Glasgow fail to halt the tourists|work=Herald Scotland}}</ref>
He played for Glasgow in the 1997-98 Heineken Cup. He came off the bench in Glasgow's away match to Swansea RFC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://origin-m.ercrugby.com/matchcentre/17274.php|title=Match Centre - Heineken Cup - ERC - Official Website|work=ercrugby.com}}</ref> Similarly he came off the bench in Glasgow's away match to Leicester Tigers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/16806.php|title=Leicester Tigers 90-19 Glasgow Rugby : Match Centre - Heineken Cup - ERC - Official Website|work=ercrugby.com|access-date=20 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402174832/http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/16806.php|archive-date=2 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
He also played for Glasgow in the 1997–98 Scottish Inter-District Championship; against Edinburgh Rugby on 19 October 1997, coming on for Craig Sangster at Full Back;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12285686.No_mean_show_by_the_city__Referee_apos_s_stop_start_nightmare_is_hard_to_swallow_as_Hayes_makes_Edinburgh_pay_the_penalty/|title=No mean show by the city. Referee's stop-start nightmare is hard to swallow as Hayes makes Edinburgh pay the penalty|work=Herald Scotland}}</ref> and against Border Reivers on 24 October 1997, coming on for James Craig.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12285831.Glasgow_have_edge_in_poor_advert_for_District_rugby/|title=Glasgow have edge in poor advert for District rugby|work=Herald Scotland}}</ref>
Whilst at the professional Glasgow club, Fraser was also able to play for an amateur club in Glasgow's district when not on Warriors duty. Fraser was assigned to Kilmarnock RFC.<ref name="sportinggenes.com"/> At the end of the season he was diagnosed with a prolapsed disc and his Glasgow contract had expired. Due to the SRU's cost exercise of the merger of Scotland's 4 district clubs into 2, 43 professional players including 6 Scotland internationalists lost their club - Fraser's contract was not renewed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12299322.District_cap_does_not_fit_six_Scotland_internationalists__Room_left_to_tempt_big_names_north_as_43_players_pay_the_penalty_for_rugby_apos_s_contract_revolution/|title=District cap does not fit six Scotland internationalists. Room left to tempt big names north as 43 players pay the penalty for rugby's contract revolution|work=Herald Scotland}}</ref> However he was free to move outwith Glasgow's district and after treatment signed with another amateur club Watsonians. He played for the Edinburgh club from 1998-2000.<ref name="sportinggenes.com"/>
Gavin stayed in Glasgow till 2005 when he moved back to Northamptonshire. He played rugby in friendly matches and represented 'Scottish Legend' sides.<ref name="sportinggenes.com"/>
In 2008, Fraser played for the Nottingham Panthers Legends team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nottinghampost.com/Panthers-legends-cash-charity/story-12269357-detail/story.html|title=Nottingham Panthers legends cash in - Nottingham Post|work=Nottingham Post}}</ref>
In 2020 Gav is due to represent team G&T in the annual merseytri team swim run where along with his dashing team mate he is considered a favourite.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.epcrugby.com/statistics/player_archive.php?includeref=dynamic&player=2277 EPC Profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fraser, Gavin}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Glasgow Warriors players Category:Kilmarnock RFC players Category:London Irish players Category:London Scottish F.C. players Category:Rugby union players from Liverpool Category:Scottish Exiles (rugby union) players Category:Scottish rugby union players Category:Waterloo F.C. players Category:Watsonian FC players Category:Rugby union wings Category:People educated at Merchant Taylors' Boys' School, Crosby