Tom James (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
Tom James is a Welsh
rugby union
footballer.
He was a former Welsh athlete before turning to rugby. His older brother, Robbie, is a professional welterweight boxer and former Welsh ABA Champion.
After turning to rugby, he joined Merthyr RFC
on the wing. After a successful year at Merthyr James joined Cardiff RFC
at the start of the 2006–07 season. James scored 11 tries in just nine games to open the season which brought him to the attention of the regional side, with whom he had an academy contract. He was immediately put into the 22 man squad for the Cardiff Blues
trip to Edinburgh in the Magners League
. He came off the bench mid way through the second half and within minutes had marked his regional debut with a try.
His rise through Welsh rugby continued and during the 2006–07 season he joined the Wales Sevens team
for a number of games. Following the 2006–07 season he was called up to the Welsh national squad
for the summer tour of Australia, although he did not play a game on the tour.
During the build up to the 2007 Rugby World Cup he was a part of the National Teams 40 man squad and made his debut for his country against England in August 2007. When the 40 man squad was cut to 30 at the end of August James was out and he returned to Cardiff Blues
for the Magners League season. A slight knock kept him out of the first few games of the 2007–08 season. He came back shortly after the start, firstly playing a game for Cardiff RFC before starting the Blues
away game against Munster
in which he scored two tries. The following week he started again at home against Connacht
and scored two more tries late on helping the Blues to a bonus point win.
On the Welsh summer tour to South Africa in 2008, James spoke out against Warren Gatlands selection policy. James was disappointed not to get more game time whilst on tour. This sparked support from many Cardiff Blues fans who had been in awe of his performances for the Blues.
James was top try scorer in the Magners League in the 2007–08 season, an amazing feat considering that he was injured for part of the season and suffered a very nasty illness.
James missed the first nine weeks of this season due to a groin injury. He scored a try in the final of the EDF Energy Cup
at Twickenham
on 18 April 2009 against Gloucester. He also scored the try that lead Cardiff to draw 26–26 in the Heiniken Cup semi-final, before also missing a vital kick that otherwise would have won them the game in penalty shoot-out.
On 18 January 2010 he was named in the 35 man Wales national Squad
for the 2010 Six Nations tournament.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer.
He was a former Welsh athlete before turning to rugby. His older brother, Robbie, is a professional welterweight boxer and former Welsh ABA Champion.
After turning to rugby, he joined Merthyr RFC
Merthyr RFC
Merthyr RFC is a Welsh rugby union club based in Merthyr in South Wales. Merthyr RFC are presently members of the Welsh Rugby Union playing in the Division One East League and are a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues..-Early history:...
on the wing. After a successful year at Merthyr James joined Cardiff RFC
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
at the start of the 2006–07 season. James scored 11 tries in just nine games to open the season which brought him to the attention of the regional side, with whom he had an academy contract. He was immediately put into the 22 man squad for the Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
trip to Edinburgh in the Magners League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
. He came off the bench mid way through the second half and within minutes had marked his regional debut with a try.
His rise through Welsh rugby continued and during the 2006–07 season he joined the Wales Sevens team
Wales national rugby union team (sevens)
The Wales national rugby union sevens team is the international rugby sevens side for Welsh rugby union players. They currently compete in the IRB Sevens World Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens and in the Commonwealth Games....
for a number of games. Following the 2006–07 season he was called up to the Welsh national squad
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
for the summer tour of Australia, although he did not play a game on the tour.
During the build up to the 2007 Rugby World Cup he was a part of the National Teams 40 man squad and made his debut for his country against England in August 2007. When the 40 man squad was cut to 30 at the end of August James was out and he returned to Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
for the Magners League season. A slight knock kept him out of the first few games of the 2007–08 season. He came back shortly after the start, firstly playing a game for Cardiff RFC before starting the Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
away game against Munster
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
in which he scored two tries. The following week he started again at home against Connacht
Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Connacht that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 comprising teams from the Celtic nations plus Italy. Normally, it also competes in the second-tier pan-European club competition, the European Challenge Cup...
and scored two more tries late on helping the Blues to a bonus point win.
On the Welsh summer tour to South Africa in 2008, James spoke out against Warren Gatlands selection policy. James was disappointed not to get more game time whilst on tour. This sparked support from many Cardiff Blues fans who had been in awe of his performances for the Blues.
James was top try scorer in the Magners League in the 2007–08 season, an amazing feat considering that he was injured for part of the season and suffered a very nasty illness.
James missed the first nine weeks of this season due to a groin injury. He scored a try in the final of the EDF Energy Cup
EDF Energy Cup
The Anglo-Welsh Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the LV Cup , is an English and Welsh rugby union knock-out cup competition featuring the twelve Aviva Premiership clubs and four Welsh Regions...
at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
on 18 April 2009 against Gloucester. He also scored the try that lead Cardiff to draw 26–26 in the Heiniken Cup semi-final, before also missing a vital kick that otherwise would have won them the game in penalty shoot-out.
On 18 January 2010 he was named in the 35 man Wales national Squad
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
for the 2010 Six Nations tournament.