Texan centre Coby Baker played in Major League Rugby during the 2027 season. He represented the California Legion for his entire MLR career.

A native of Austin, TX, Coby Baker found an unorthodox route into rugby. He discovered the game in Malaysia, watching his father play. He attended the International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) where he captained the rugby team and was chosen to represent the USA U18s Sevens team, before returning to the USA and heading to California, where he enrolled at Cal Poly. Baker continued to develop at Cal Poly and progressed through the USA Age Grade sides, playing with the U20s and touring South America with the U23s in 2025. Baker was a finalist for the Rudy Scholz award, recognising the best US collegiate men’s rugby player, not once, but twice during his time at Cal Poly, and is a 3x Collegiate All-American.

Coby Baker declared for the 2026 MLR College Draft and was selected in the First Round, 3rd overall by the California Legion.

achievements

• 2026 MLR Draftee: 1st Round – 3rd Overall (California Legion)

NARDB Player #1,769