Dafydd James

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Dafydd James bigraphy, stories - Welsh rugby union player

Dafydd James : biography

24 July 1975 –

Dafydd Rhys James (born 24 July 1975) is a former Welsh international rugby union footballer who plays on the wing or at centre. He toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2001. James was born in Mufulira, Zambia, but has earned 48 caps for Wales and three for the British & Irish Lions.http://www.espnscrum.com/timeline/rugby/player/12274.html His clubs include; Kenfig Hill RFC, Llanelli, Bridgend, Pontypridd, Harlequins, Scarlets, Cardiff Blues, Sale Sharks and HKCC Rugby.

International career

James made his international debut in 1996 and went on to win 51 caps during league play. His last cap came at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Domestic career

He had his contract with the Scarlets terminated in 2009 alongside Simon Maling and Gavin Thomas after he was injured for most of the 2008/09 season with a neck injury. James considered taking legal action after he claimed he was ‘humiliated’ and was denied access to the team bus and training. The Scarlets said he was injured which allowed them to invoke a clause that allowed him to released if he was injured for 26 weeks, despite James claiming to be fit.

He moved on to the Cardiff Blues for the 2009/10 season, but with limited success, he started just one match in the Magners League. He moved to the Sale Sharks in January 2010 to cover for an injury crisis, but he failed to have an impact on them scoring no tries and he was released at the end of the season.

He did hold the record for leading try scorer in the Heineken Cup with 29 but was overtaken by Vincent Clerc in 2009.