Jonathan Baker

Profile

Current employment  

HM Forces/Army

Why did you join Stourbridge

Play rugby, Level 1.

Toughest opponent and why

Best sporting achievement

Playing Combined Services, at Twickenham, against England Students.

Favourite sport, apart from rugby

Golf.

Favourite food

McDonalds/Pizza Hut/Kebab and chips.

What’s on your i-pod ?

Nothing.

Favourite film

300

Favourite TV programme

Little Britain.

Most embarrassing moment

My ears, in general and my bad breath.

Ambitions

To make rugby at a high level.

Joe's interview with Scribbler, February 2009

Name: Jonathan Michael James (Joe) Baker
Position: Loose head prop

Educated: Ridgeway Aston Bank, South Bromsgrove High School

Occupation: Lance-Corporal, Royal Logistics Corps

Very appropriately I caught up with 23 year old Army Logistics Lance Corporal Joe Baker whilst he was on the move. "Yep, I'm on my way from my army base in Cirencester, driving to training at Stourton Park at the moment." Joe reported. On his hands-free phone, of course. "Typical, the M5 has a problem, so I've had to cut over across through Kidderminster." Joe was born in Aylesbury, but parents Steven and Brenda moved to Tardebigge, near Bromsgrove whilst he was a toddler and that's where Joe started playing rugby.

He confessed "Always been a prop forward" though Joe didn't play rugby until he was twelve. "Rugby was a great outlet for me. My school didn't have a great rugby tradition, but I played there and for Bromsgrove RFC as well." Obviously played pretty well, because Worcester soon came calling and Joe moved down the M5 for his rugby at the age of fourteen. "At eighteen I was then offered a contract with Moseley", but the Army beckoned and Joe signed up. The experience has already seen him visit the Falklands and Cyprus in U.N. support roles during his service to date.

"I want to do the full twelve years and then see what Civvy Street offers. Joining as I did as an eighteen year old - into the Logistics Corps - I instantly gained a trade, and both HGV grades 1 and 2 licences into the bargain. Normally you need to be much older to qualify for these licences. Having served my minimum term of four years already (Joe's actually got five years under the belt) I am confident that I'll do the full dozen." Starting off as a driver, Joe is now oversees the activities he used to be doing himself. At the same time, the Army has offered great sporting opportunities as well. "I'm keen on fishing, play golf and love my cricket." As a prop forward I was staggered to discover that Joe is a left arm fast bowler, rather than a beefy slogger. He has played cricket for Alvechurch, the village where he has a house with partner Jeanine. "I pay for the house and she looks after it!" Joked Joe, rather dangerously for a comment that was going to appear in print. Jeanine works in the weddings and conference department of the Abbey Hotel and Golf Club on the northern outskirts of Redditch.

The Army has opened up many rugby opportunities for Joe including a nice sabbatical in Cyprus where he played for Pathos Tigers RFC whilst on U.N. secondment there. He has represented the Army at all levels "including an Under 23 Grand Slam against the Navy and R.A.F. last season". The majority of Inter Services rugby is played midweek, so in an attempt to progress his rugby, Joe started returning at the weekend to play for his original club Bromsgrove before Army Coach Dai Davies (whom we assume from his name has been very proud of the Land of His Fathers this week after Saturday's Six Nations encounter) suggested a further challenge to extend his rugby development. National League Two rugby. But where? No need to look very far.

"On Dai's instigation I moved to Stour in the summer and made my debut against Henley before the turn of the year" Joe knew the club well from encounters during his times at Bromsgrove and Worcester. The trip to Stourbridge from Chippenham in Wiltshire usually only takes about an hour and a quarter and it gives Joe the chance to pop in home after a match or training - presumably to help Jeanine with the house keeping. In December Joe also travelled with the Army to play Brive's 2nd XV in South West France ("a massive challenge as several first teamers were in their team") and further experiences lie just around the corner. "This year there is the chance of an Army rugby training camp in South Africa which I hope to attend." As for his army career there is the possibility of a tour to Iraq in the autumn, but at this stage Joe doesn't know whether he'll be doing that or turning out on the pastures of Stourton Park in September.

Hey Joe. Stuck between Iraq and a hard place.

Further information