James Harper (rugby union)

Last updated

James Harper
Date of birth (2000-10-16) 16 October 2000 (age 23) [1]
Place of birth Liverpool
Height191 cm (6 ft 3 in) [2]
Weight115 kg (18 st 2 lb) [3]
School Merchant Taylors' Boys' School, Crosby
Rugby union career
Position(s) Tighthead Prop
Current team Sale Sharks
Youth career
Southport RUFC
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2021- Sale Sharks ()
2021-22 → Caldy (loan) ()
2021-22 → Coventry (loan) ()
2022 → Western Sydney (loan) ()
Correct as of 9 December 2023
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
England U18

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

Contents

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 RUFC and Southport RUFC. [6]

Career

Harper joined the Sale Sharks academy from Southport RUFC whilst in his teens. After professing through the academy, he made his Premiership Rugby debut against London Irish on March 21, 2021. [7] Harper spent time on loan at Caldy RFC, and he helped them to win the 2021–22 National League 1 title. [8] [9] He has also spent time on loan at Coventry RFC and playing in the Shute Shield for Australian side Western Sydney Two Blues. [10]

In September 2022, he signed a new four-year contract with Sale. [11]

International career

In February 2024 he was called up to the England A team. [12]

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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 (29 February 2016). "Birkdale High pupil Johnson inspires Lancashire fightback in Roses clash". Southportvisiter.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  7. ↑ "PREMIERSHIP Sharks star pens new deal". Huge Rugby. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  8. ↑ Lyon, John (24 April 2022). "Ben strikes to see Caldy to victory and the title". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  9. ↑ Heagney, Liam (22 May 2022). "The 'sweet spot' Sale hope to hit loaning out their young players". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ "James Harper: Sale Sharks prop signs new deal until end of 2025-26 season". BBC Sport. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  12. ↑ Westerby, John (15 February 2024). "Steve Borthwick uses England A squad to capture dual-qualified players". The Times. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
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