Mel James

Melvyn James (21 February 1948 – 11 December 2022) was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Resolven RFC and Swansea RFC, and at representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for St. Helens, as a prop.^[1][2]

Mel James

Personal information
Full name	Melvyn James
Born	(1948-02-21)21 February 1948 Resolven, Wales
Died	11 December 2022(2022-12-11) (aged 74) Resolven, Wales
Playing information
Rugby union
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 19??–68 Resolven RFC 1968–72 Swansea RFC 183 17 0 0 57 Total 183 17 0 0 57
Rugby league
Position	Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1972–83 St. Helens 337 41 0 0 123 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1975–81 Wales 11 1 0 0 3
Source: [1]

Career

International honours

Mel James won caps for the Wales (RL) while at St. Helens in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup against England, in 1978 against France, England, and Australia, in 1979 against France and England, in 1980 against France and England, and in 1981 against France and England (2 matches).^[1] James also toured with the 1979 Great Britain side in Australia but did not play in any of the test matches.^[3]

World Club Challenge Final appearances

Mel James was a Substitute in St. Helens 2-25 defeat by the 1975 NSWRFL season premiers, Eastern Suburbs Roosters in the unofficial 1976 World Club Challenge at Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday 29 June 1976.^[4]

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Mel James played as a substitute (replacing prop John Mantle) in St. Helens' 20-5 victory over Widnes in the 1976 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 8 May 1976.

County Cup Final appearances

Mel James played left-prop in St. Helens 0-16 defeat by Warrington in the 1982 Lancashire Cup Final at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 23 October 1982.

BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final appearances

Mel James played right-prop in St. Helens' 22-2 victory over Dewsbury in the 1975 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 16 December 1975, played right-prop in the 11-26 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1977 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Craven Park, Kingston upon Hull on Tuesday 13 December 1977, and played right-prop in the 7-13 defeat by Widnes in the 1978 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at Knowsley Road, St Helens on Tuesday 12 December 1978.

Personal life

James died on 11 December 2022, at the age of 74.^[3]

References

1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
3. Pattison, Cam (11 December 2022). "St Helens legend Mel James passes away at 74". Rugby League News. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
4. "World Club Challenge 1976 at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.

External links

• Profile at saints.org.uk
• Statistics at swansearfc.co.uk