Username
Password
Dafydd James Joins Quins
By The Prof August 31 2004
Dafydd James has signed for NEC Harlequins after turning down an offer to play on the wing for the Celtic Warriors. He will be joining fellow Welshmen Ceri Jones and Paul Turner.
Name: Dafydd Rhys James Dafydd James
Date of birth: 24 July 1975
Place of Birth: Mufulira, Zambia
Position: Centre/Wing
Weight: 94kg (15st)
Height: 1.88m (6ft 3in)
Previous clubs: Llanelli, Bridgend, Pontypridd, Celtic Warriors
Joined NEC Harlequins: May 2004 on a 2 year contract
Caps: 41 (+3 Lions)
International Honours: Wales, Wales A, Wales 7s, Wales U21, Welsh Students, Barbarians, British Lions
International Debut: v Australia 22 June 1996
Latest Test: v New Zealand 23 Nov 2002

Dafydd James started his international rugby career as a 20 year old when he came on as a replacement for Nigel Davis in his preferred position of centre against Australia in 1996. He played in the Welsh side in the 1999 World Cup in a group that included Samoa, Japan and Argentina (a team that included one Agustin Pichot). Since then the majority of James’ caps have been on the wing although he has been out of the side since the end of 2002 due to injury and a reluctance for Steve Hanson to pick him.

He was part of the British Lions touring party to Australia in 2001 when he toured with Jason Leonard, Keith Wood, Will Greenwood and Dan Luger. He started six games and came on as a replacement in one. He played in all three tests, scoring a try in the first test (as well as tries in the games against Nathan Williams’ team the Queensland Reds and the NSW Waratahs).

In 2002 he had an elbow injury that ruled him out of the Welsh tour to South Africa and he was also banned by Hanson for one game after leaving the Welsh squad’s hotel and returning home for a night without permission, he was then brought dropped for the next test against Canada but returned to play his last test against New Zealand. A few days after the match he was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery to remove his appendix. The surgery knocked him back for a few months and he hasn’t recovered a place in the Welsh side since.

He was in the initial training squad of 55 that was selected for the 2003 Rugby World Cup but a serious injury (he damaged a nerve in his shoulder in a friendly against Sale Sharks) ruled him out of contention and ended his season.

He is the third highest scorer in the Heineken Cup with 20 tries (Pontypridd-9,Llanelli-8,Bridgend-2,Celtic Warriors-1), one of his tries for Bridgend was scored against Quins in 2001. Only Michel Marfaing and Emile Ntamack both from Toulouse have scored more, let’s hope he can continue this fine run of European form when he plays for us in the Heineken Cup next season.

He is a fast and powerful runner whose style of play should complement Greenwoods perfectly. James will get his first taste of playing alongside Andre Vos when he lines up for the Barbarians against Wales at Ashton Gate. He has played against Harlequins in the 2001/2 Heineken Cup and played alongside Josh Taumalolo at Bridgend.

He is joining Harlequins on a two year contract after turning down an offer from his old club, the Celtic Warriors although looking at the way the Celtic Warriors are being treated he may not have had a club to sign with. It is said that the reason he turned them down was because they saw him as a wing but he prefers to play at outside centre. The prospect of a centre partnership of Greenwood and James is certainly a mouth watering one especially when you think they will both be pushed hard by the likes of Deane, Barratt and Reay.

James is hoping his move to Quins will put him in a good position to regain his Welsh place and get on the Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005.

Bookmark or share this story with: