View source for Dafydd James

{{Short description|Welsh rugby player (born 1975)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=August 2010}}
{{Tone|date=August 2010}}
}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name              = Dafydd James
| image             =
| caption           = 
| birth_name        = Dafydd Rhys James
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1975|7|24}}
| birth_place       = [[Mufulira]], [[Zambia]]
| death_date        = 
| death_place       = 
| height            = {{convert|1.94|m|ftin|frac=2|abbr=on}}
| weight            = {{convert|99|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}
| position          = [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]], [[Centre (rugby union)|Centre]]
| amatyears1        = 
| amatteam1         = 
| ru_amupdate       = 
| years1            = 1995–1997
| years2            = 1997–1999
| years3            = 1999–2001
| years4            = 2001–2003
| years5            = 2003-2004
| years6            = 2004–2005
| years7            = 2005-2009
| years8            = 2009
| years9            = 2009-2010
| years10            = 2010
| years11            = 2010–2011
| clubs1            = [[Bridgend Ravens|Bridgend]]
| clubs2            = [[Pontypridd RFC|Pontypridd]]
| clubs3            = [[Llanelli RFC|Llanelli]]
| clubs4            = [[Bridgend Ravens|Bridgend]]
| clubs5            = [[Celtic Warriors]]
| clubs6            = [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]]
| clubs7            = [[Scarlets]]
| clubs8            = [[Bridgend Ravens|Bridgend]]
| clubs9            = [[Cardiff Blues]]
| clubs10            = [[Sale Sharks|Sale]]
| clubs11            = HKCC
| apps1             = 43
| apps2             = 54
| apps3             = 52
| apps4             = 33
| apps5             = 18
| apps6             = 22
| apps7             = 72
| apps8             = 1
| apps9             = 4
| apps10             = 7
| points1           = 80
| points2           = 115
| points3           = 145
| points4           = 80
| points5           = 10
| points6           = 15
| points7           = 115
| points8           = 5
| points9           = 0
| points10           = 0
| ru_clubupdate     = 
| province1         = 
| provinceyears1    = 
| provinceapps1     = 
| provincepoints1   = 
| ru_provinceupdate = 
| repteam1          = Wales U21
| repteam2          = Wales A
| repteam3          = [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]]
| repteam4          = [[British & Irish Lions]]
| repyears1         = 1996
| repyears2         = 1997
| repyears3         = 1995–2007
| repyears4         = 2001
| repcaps1          = 1
| repcaps2          = 1
| repcaps3          = 48
| repcaps4          = 3
| reppoints1        = 0
| reppoints2        = 0
| reppoints3        = 75
| reppoints4        = 5
| ru_ntupdate       = 
| school            = [[Brynteg Comprehensive School]]
| university        = [[Swansea University]] 
}}
'''Dafydd Rhys James''' (born 24 July 1975) is a Welsh former [[rugby union]] footballer who played on the [[Wing (rugby union)|wing]] or in the [[Centre (rugby union)|centre]]. He toured with the [[2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia|British & Irish Lions in 2001]]. James was born in [[Mufulira]], [[Zambia]], but earned 48 caps for [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] and three for the British & Irish Lions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/timeline/rugby/player/12274.html|title=Dafydd James &#124; Rugby Union &#124; Players and Officials|publisher=ESPNscrum}}</ref> At club level, he played for [[Bridgend Ravens|Bridgend]], [[Pontypridd RFC|Pontypridd]], [[Llanelli RFC|Llanelli]], [[Celtic Warriors]], [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]], [[Scarlets]], [[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff Blues]] and [[Sale Sharks]].

==Domestic career==
James began his professional rugby career at Bridgend RFC in 1995 after coming up through the ranks of Kenfig Hill RFC. After 43 appearances for Bridgend, he moved to Pontypridd RFC in 1997, where he played his part in the infamous Battle of Brive (Heineken cup clash 1997) and went on to make 54 club appearances in two years. In 1999 James moved to West Wales to play his rugby and enjoyed his first stint at Llanelli playing 52 games and scoring 145 points. He returned to Bridgend in 2001 (which later became the Celtic Warriors regional side in 2003). 2004 saw James move to London to play for Harlequins, before being tempted back to Wales only a year later to return for the Llanelli Scarlets where he stayed until 2009.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

James scored over 565 points in his career and was the first to score over 25 tries in Heineken Cup and scored 29 tries overall.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

==International career==
James made his international debut for Wales in 1996, playing against Australia in Sydney. He went on to win 48 caps in 11 years and scored 15 tries. His last cap came at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

In 2001, James played all three Tests for the British & Irish Lions in Australia, scoring one of their four tries in the opening Test victory.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20110526075040/http://www.wru.co.uk/41_409.php |date=26 May 2011 |title=Profile at wru.co.uk }}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110101106/http://www.ponty.net/james-dafydd |date=10 November 2007 |title=Profile at ponty.net }}
* [http://www.Dafydd-James.com Dafydd James Fitness]
* {{World Rugby Sevens Series profile|mens/943}}

{{Wales 1999 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{Wales 2007 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{British and Irish Lions 2001}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Dafydd}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Zambian people of British descent]]
[[Category:Bridgend RFC players]]
[[Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales]]
[[Category:Harlequin F.C. players]]
[[Category:Kenfig Hill RFC players]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Llanelli RFC players]]
[[Category:People educated at Ysgol Brynteg]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Mufulira]]
[[Category:Pontypridd RFC players]]
[[Category:Rugby union centres]]
[[Category:Rugby union wings]]
[[Category:Scarlets players]]
[[Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen]]
[[Category:Sale Sharks players]]
[[Category:Wales international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Welsh rugby union players]]
[[Category:Zambian emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Zambian people of English descent]]
[[Category:1999 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:2007 Rugby World Cup players]]