Perry Baker of USA scores a try against Argentina during day 1 of the 2018 HSBC Cape Town Sevens at Cape Town Stadium on 8 December 2018 ©Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Watch: Perry Baker shows unbelievable footwork for sensational try
Perry Baker has scored plenty of special tries on the World Rugby Sevens Series but he has added another classic in Hamilton.
Perry Baker of USA scores a try against Argentina during day 1 of the 2018 HSBC Cape Town Sevens at Cape Town Stadium on 8 December 2018 ©Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Perry Baker has scored plenty of special tries on the World Rugby Sevens Series but he has added another classic in Hamilton.
Baker made the most of a misplaced pass, and backed himself to pull off some fancy footwork to leave two defenders in the dust.
The legendary Sevens star is now the USA’s all-time top try scorer.
Watch: Perry Baker scores sensational try
USA went on to win the match against Japan 40-12 to make a statement at the outset of the latest leg of the Sevens Series.
The Americans are in the hunt for the series title coming into the Hamilton Sevens fourth but just three log points behind leaders Samoa and South Africa.
How he chose rugby
Baker is a former NFL player, whose dreams of gridiron big-time were iced by injury.
He told Korshots.com: “I grew up outside of Daytona Beach, Florida, playing football. I continued on to play for Fairmont State University in West Virginia, then to the NFL, where I signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. After a torn meniscus took me out of the NFL game, I played for the Arena Football League for about two seasons. Soon after, I made the switch to rugby to go after my dream of being an Olympian.
“I actually first started dabbling in rugby in high school, when my position coach was playing for a local men’s club. He kept showing up at my basketball games, trying to convince me to go with him to a training session.
“I barely knew what rugby was back then, but when I finally went, I immediately knew it was a fit. I loved the sport and camaraderie right off the bat.My college scholarship led me to football, but I’m glad I eventually found my way back to the sport I enjoy so much.”
