James Harper (rugby union)

James Harper (born 16 October 2000) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop forward for Sale Sharks.

James Harper

Date of birth	(2000-10-16) 16 October 2000 (age 24)[1]
Place of birth	Liverpool, England
Height	191 cm (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Weight	126 kg (19 st 12 lb)[3]
School	Merchant Taylors' Boys' School, Crosby
Rugby union career
Position(s) Tighthead Prop Current team Sale Sharks Youth career Southport RFC Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2021– Sale Sharks 54 (10) 2021–2022 → Caldy (loan) 1 (0) 2021–2022 → Coventry (loan) 4 (5) 2022 → Western Sydney (loan) - (-) Correct as of 1 June 2024 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2019 England U18s 1 (0) Correct as of 1 June 2024

Early life

Harper attended Merchant Taylors' Boys School in Great Crosby, Merseyside, where he started playing rugby union aged eleven years-old.^[4][5] He played rugby union at county level for Lancashire, and for Waterloo and Southport RFC.^[6]

Club career

Harper joined the Sale Sharks academy from Southport RFC whilst in his teens. After progressing through the academy, he made his Premiership Rugby debut against London Irish on 21 March 2021.^[7][8]

Harper spent time on loan at Caldy RFC, and he helped them to win the 2021–22 National League 1 title.^[9][10] He has also spent time on loan at Coventry R.F.C. and playing in the Shute Shield for Australian side Western Sydney Two Blues.^[11]

In September 2022, Harper signed a new four-year contract with Sale.^[8] He started for the Sharks side that were eliminated in the semi-final of the 2024 Premiership by Bath.^[12]

International career

In March 2019 Harper represented England under-18 against France.^[13] In February 2024 he was called up to the England A team.^[14]

References

1. "James Harper". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
2. "James Harper". TNT Sports. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
3. "James Harper". all.rugby. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
4. Grimes, Victoria (29 April 2021). "Liverpool Merchant Taylors' school first in UK to give rugby head guards to Year 7 pupils to guard against concussion". ITV. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
5. "Harper makes Premiership Rugby debut". Merchanttaylors. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
6. Ellis, Graham (19 February 2016). "Birkdale High pupil Johnson inspires Lancashire fightback in Roses clash". Southportvisiter.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
7. "Sharks star pens new deal". Huge Rugby. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
8. "James Harper: Sale Sharks prop signs new deal until end of 2025-26 season". BBC Sport. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
9. Lyon, John (24 April 2022). "Ben strikes to see Caldy to victory and the title". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
10. Heagney, Liam (22 May 2022). "The 'sweet spot' Sale hope to hit loaning out their young players". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
11. Heagney, Liam (8 September 2022). "As a raw talent with potential, he's as good as anyone at tighthead'". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
12. Peddy, Chris (1 June 2024). "Bath beat Sale in thriller to reach Premiership final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
13. Sherrard, Gary (24 March 2019). "Quartet help England to make it two from two". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
14. Westerby, John (15 February 2024). "Steve Borthwick uses England A squad to capture dual-qualified players". The Times. Retrieved 15 February 2024.