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James Stokes (rugby union)

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James Stokes
Birth nameJames Alexander Stokes
Date of birth (1991-11-19) 19 November 1991 (age 32)
Place of birthMansfield, England
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
SchoolNottingham High School
UniversityNottingham Trent University University of Law
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback
Current team Rugby Football Club Los Angeles
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
– Nottingham High School ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
– Nottingham ()
2013-2019 Cambridge ()
2019-2023 London Irish ()
2023- Rugby Football Club Los Angeles ()

James Alexander Stokes (born 19 November 1991) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback for Major League Rugby club Rugby Football Club Los Angeles.[1][2]

Early life

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Stokes was born in Mansfield, East Midlands. He began playing rugby at the age of 14, representing Nottingham High School,[3] where he played alongside future professional rugby players Alex Lewington and Max Trimble.[4]

Club career

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Stokes began his career at Nottingham Rugby Club, making notable appearances in the British and Irish Cup. His standout moment came when he scored a match-winning drop goal from 40 meters out against Pontypridd RFC.[5]

In 2013, Stokes joined Cambridge Rugby Club, where he played a pivotal role in their promotion to National League One in 2016 before moving to Coventry RFC. At Coventry, he continued his impressive form, helping the team secure promotion to the RFU Championship in the 2017–18 season. Stokes finished as the league's top try-scorer with 21 tries, breaking the club record which he stills holds.[6] He also tied the club record for most tries in a single game, scoring four against Yorkshire Carnegie in the 2019–20 season.[7] He went onto make over 80 appearances for Coventry, scoring 35 tries.[8]

In December 2019, Stokes was signed by London Irish on a short-term contract.[9] He made his debut against Bath Rugby at home in the Gallagher Premiership.[10] Following his debut, Stokes became a reliable and versatile player for the club throughout the remainder of the 2019–2020 season. Although it was a challenging season due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Stokes continued to impress with his consistency and work rate. His ability to cover multiple positions, including fullback, wing and centre, earned him a reputation as a dependable squad player.[11]

In June 2021, Stokes signed a new contract with London Irish. Upon signing Stokes, London Irish Director of Rugby, Declan Kidney, praised him as the "ultimate professional.".[12] Stokes went onto make 61 appearances for London Irish, scoring 12 tries in the Gallagher Premiership, Premiership Rugby Cup and ECPR Challenge Cup. His effort vs Sale Sharks in May 2023 earned the club's 'Try Of The Year' accolade.

Following London Irish's demise in June 2023, Stokes signed for Major League Rugby team Rugby Football Club Los Angeles. He made 11 appearances in the 2024 season, including scoring a try vs San Diego Legion.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "James Stokes". Rugby FCLA. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  2. ^ djcoilrugby (2023-12-26). "RFC LA Signs James Stokes". djcoilrugby. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  3. ^ Wilkinson, John (2016-10-27). "James Stokes enjoying life in the West Midlands". Coventry Live. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  4. ^ Team, The Rugby Paper (2024-07-28). "I wanted to finish at the highest level possible". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  5. ^ "Rugby World's Championship Blog". Rugby World. 2011-11-18. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  6. ^ Wilkinson, John (2018-05-01). "Cov create EIGHT records in title-winning season". Coventry Live. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  7. ^ Smith, Paul (2019-10-28). "REPORT: Yorkshire Carnegie 26-66 Coventry Rugby". Coventry Live. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  8. ^ "Stokes leaves for London Irish". Coventry Rugby. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  9. ^ "James Stokes: London Irish sign full-back from Coventry". BBC Sport. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  10. ^ Heal, Chris (2020-01-10). "James Stokes: From the National Leagues to the Premiership". National League Rugby. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  11. ^ "James Stokes". London Irish. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  12. ^ "James Stokes: London Irish full-back signs new contract at Premiership club". BBC Sport. 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  13. ^ News, Americas Rugby (2024-03-17). "San Diego edges LA in all-California clash". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 2024-10-26. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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