James Graham (rugby league)

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = James Graham
fullname = James B Graham
nickname = Butch Dingle, Jammer

---

image_size= 200px
caption =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|9|10
placeofbirth = Maghull, Merseyside
countryofbirth = England
height = height|ft=6|in=2
weight = 16 st 9 lbs (106 kg)
position = Prop / Second row
currentclub = leagueicon|St Helens|size=16 St Helens
clubnumber = 17
club1 = leagueicon|St Helens|size=16 St Helens
year1start = 2003
year1end = present
appearances1 = 125
tries1 = 31
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 124
teamA = Flagicon|Great Britain Great Britain
yearAstart = 2006
yearAend = 2007
appearancesA = 2
triesA = 2
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 8
teamB = Flagicon|England England
yearBstart = 2008
yearBend = present
appearancesB = 1
triesB = 0
goalsB = 0
fieldgoalsB = 0
pointsB = 0
updated = 21:51, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
source = [http://www.saintsrlfc.com/player/17 St Helens profile]
new = yes

James Graham (born September 10, 1985 in Maghull, Merseyside) is an English rugby league player. He plays as a prop foward for St. Helens RFC.

James signed with Saints as a junior in 2000, eventually playing his way through the Junior Academies before making his senior debut against Castleford Tigers in August 2003. He has already had leadership experience after captaining the England Academy in a famous series victory in Australia in 2004.

The 22 year old prop made a name for himself in Super League XX, making 27 first team appearances and being named Saints’ Young Player of the Year, for his mature, powerful performances which has also seen him named as a contender for Super League Young Player of the Year, with competition from Wigan Warriors rival Chris Ashton. He has just signed a new contract at St. Helens to tie his future at the Knowsley Road based club until 2008.

He is most famous however, for a stunt during a fire drill in Deyes High School, Maghull, where he pretended his hair was the cause of the fire.

Great Britain coach Brian Noble selected Graham in a friendly against New Zealand earlier in 2006 in the Castlemaine XXXX Test in which he made a try scoring debut at Knowsley Road.

He has been named in the Super League Dream Team for the 2008 season.cite web|url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=11755|title=2008 engage Super League Dream Team|publisher=Super League|date=2008-09-15|accessdate=2008-09-26]

James won the the 2008 Man of Steel award, making him the fourth successive St Helens player to win the prestigious award having beaten rival Jamie Peacock and fellow team mate Leon Pryce. He follows team mates James Roby, Paul Wellens, Paul Sculthorpe (twice) and Sean Long in being named Man of Steel. He played in the 2008 Super League Grand Final defeat to the Leeds Rhinos.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7642170.stm|title=2008 Grand Final|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-04|accessdate=2008-10-05]

He has been named in the England squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7656553.stm|title=Purdham earns World Cup call-up|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-07|accessdate=2008-10-07]

References

External links

* [http://www.saintsrlfc.com/player/17 St Helens profile]