Evan James (rugby)

Evan James (1869 – 18 August 1901) was a Welsh rugby half back who played club rugby for Swansea under the rugby union code, and professional rugby league for Broughton Rangers. While playing with Swansea, James was paired with his brother, David, and together they were nicknamed the 'Swansea gems' and the 'Curly haired marmosets'. The brothers were the centre of a controversial move to the league game in 1892 and switched codes twice in their careers. He had three younger brothers, Claude, Sam and Willie, the latter two playing at the same level as David and Evan towards the end of their careers. [4]

For other people named Evan James, see Evan James (disambiguation).

Evan James
Birth nameEvan James
Date of birth1869
Place of birthSwansea, Wales
Date of death1901 (aged 31–32)
Place of deathBonymaen, Wales[1]
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2]
Notable relative(s)David James (brother)
Rugby league career
Position(s) Halfback
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1892-96 Broughton ()
1899-? Broughton ()
Rugby union career
Position(s) Half-back
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1889-92 Swansea RFC ()
1896-99 Swansea RFC ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1890-99 Wales[3] 5 (0)

Rugby career
The James brothers going north for big money at Broughton, 1899

James was first capped for Wales on 1 February 1890 in a match against Scotland, which was more notable for being the début game for Swansea team-mate and Wales legend Billy Bancroft. His début, without his brother as support, was deemed a total failure.[5] On 7 March 1891, against Ireland at Stradey Park, James turned out for Wales alongside his brother to keep together their Swansea partnership. James's fifth and final cap took a seven-year gap to obtain when he turned out against England in 1899.[6]

In 1892, James and his brother supposedly turned out for professional rugby league team Broughton Rangers, after which the Rugby Football Union banned them both from rugby union. In 1896, an appeal from Swansea and Wales was successful and the brothers were reinstated. On 28 January, three weeks after their final cap, David and Evan actually joined Broughton Rangers, and severed their links with rugby union.[7]

International matches played

Wales[8]

Bibliography
  • Godwin, Terry (1984). The International Rugby Championship 1883-1983. London: Willows Books. ISBN 0-00-218060-X.
  • Griffiths, John (1987). The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records. London: Phoenix House. ISBN 0-460-07003-7.
  • Richards, Alun (1980). A Touch of Glory: 100 Years of Welsh Rugby. London: Michael Joseph. ISBN 0-7181-1938-X.
  • Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.

References
  1. Swansea RFC player profile
  2. Parry-Jones (1999), pg 31.
  3. Welsh Rugby Union player profile
  4. "The James Brothers in the 1890s – SWANSEA RFC". Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  5. Smith (1980), pg 64.
  6. "Statistics at scrum.com". scrum.com. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  7. Robert Gate (1986). "Gone North - Volume 1". R. E. Gate. ISBN 0-9511190-0-1
  8. Smith (1980), pg 467.
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