USA Sevens Legend Perry Baker Retires
USA Sevens Legend Perry Baker Retires
USA Men's 7s superstar Perry Baker has announced he is retiring from the USA 7s program.
Baker appeared in three Olympics, two Rugby World Cup Sevens, 71 HSBC SVNS tournaments, and won two World Rugby Player of the Year awards. He retires having scored 293 tries in SVNS tournaments, which bested only by England's Dan Norton.
Baker began playing rugby as a teenager in Florida and while he was more considered a rugby player, he appeared for the Daytona Beach men's club at major 7s tournaments, including the 2006 National Club Championships. He was a skinny, fast 20-year-old who won restarts, but he had more to learn. After a stint with the Philadelphia Eagles training camp he started working with Tiger Rugby in Ohio and was eventually invited to the USA residency program in Chula Vista in 2014 at the age of 28. He made his Sevens Series debut under Head Coach Mike Friday later that year, earning a nomination for World Rugby Rookie of the Year.
Combined with Carlin Isles he formed a deadly one-two combination. He led the Eagles in tries in 2015-16 with 48. Here, are his try-scoring totals for each season:
2014-15: 28 (2nd on USA team, 10th on World Series)
2015-16: 48 (1st / 2nd)
2016-17: 57 (1st / 1st) World Rugby Player of the Year
2017-18: 37 (2nd / 4th) World Rugby Player of the Year
2018-19: 16 (5th)
2019-20: 19 (2nd)
2020-21: COVID
2021-22: 23 (1st / 5th)
2022-23: 35 (1st / 4th)
2023-24: 25 (1st / 3rd)
In his final year Baker still led the USA team in tries and was 3rd among all players. Had he not missed time due to COVID and an injury—maybe as many as 14 tournaments—he might have caught Norton as the top try-scorer ever.
Widely regarded as one of the best to ever play rugby sevens, Baker has always attributed his successes to coaches, players, friends and family that have supported him along the way.
“After an incredible 10 years representing the USA Men’s 7s program, the time has come for me to step away from the game that has shaped so much of my life," Baker said in a statement. "It’s been an honor and a privilege to wear the jersey and represent my country on the world stage. From the moment I joined the team, I could never have imagined the experiences, the highs and lows, and the lifelong friendships rugby would give me."
He continued: "Year one of my journey was especially life-changing as I met my amazing wife, and together we built our family. To my wife and family, I couldn’t have done this without your endless support and love. You’ve been my anchor, and I’m grateful for the sacrifices you made so I could pursue my dream.
"To my teammates, coaches, staff, and everyone in USA Rugby, thank you for believing in me, pushing me, and making every moment memorable. To the fans, rugby isn’t just a sport, it’s a family and you guys made me feel that everywhere I went. And to rugby itself, thank you for teaching me resilience, teamwork, and leadership that will live with me forever.
"As I step into the next chapter, I carry with me all the lessons, memories, and connections this game has given me. I’m excited for what’s to come and how I can continue giving back to this amazing sport.”