James Grayson

James Grayson (born 26 June 1998) is an English professional rugby union player currently playing for the Premiership Rugby side Northampton Saints. He plays at fly-half.

For the scholar of the religions and folklore of Korea, see James H. Grayson.

James Grayson
Birth nameJames Grayson
Date of birth (1998-06-26) 26 June 1998
Place of birthNorthampton, England
Height1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight98 kg (15 st 6 lb; 216 lb)
SchoolNorthampton School for Boys
Moulton College
Notable relative(s)Paul Grayson (Father)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Current team Northampton Saints
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016– Northampton Saints 60 (389)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 England U20 7 (25)

Background

Grayson began playing rugby at age 4 with Old Northamptonians where he spent 13 years working his way through the age groups.[1] Educated at Northampton School for Boys and Moulton College, Grayson continued to play for club and school, captaining the Moulton team.[2] Despite now playing at fly-half, his Northampton school master had him play at scrum half and full back, positions that Grayson admits he did not enjoy at the time but rounded his playing style.[1]

His Dad is retired fly-half, Paul Grayson[2] who won the 2003 Rugby World Cup with England Rugby and toured with the British and Irish Lions on their 1997 tour to South Africa. He played for Northampton Saints his entire professional career from 1993-2005.[3]

Club career

In June 2016 Northampton Saints confirmed that Grayson along with 5 others would make the step up from the junior academy to the senior academy, all awarded professional contracts for the 2016/17 season.[4] He had been part of the junior academy since he was 13 years old.[5]

During his first season, he helped Northampton Wanderers lift the A League trophy beating Gloucester United 36-15.[6] Grayson continues to be a regular name in the Northampton developmental team where in the 2017/18 campaign they once again lifted the A-League trophy beating Exeter Braves 31-21 crowning them back to back champions.[7]

The 2017/18 season saw Grayson given his first Premiership start against Sale Sharks,[8] Northampton lost 18-15.

International career

Grayson was selected for the England Saxons under-16s in 2014. The following two years saw him selected for England under-17s in 2015 and under-18s in 2016. Whilst playing with the under-18s his performance played a key part in their 41-9 win against Wales to win the 5 Nations Festival in 2016.[9]

He made his England under-20s debut during their 2017 Six Nations campaign, the team beat Wales 21-37 with Grayson coming on as a replacement in the second half.[10] He linked up with under-20s again later that year for the World Championships, England fought their way to the final losing to New Zealand 17-64.

Grayson turned out for every England under-20s fixture during the 2018 Six Nations campaign. The team were defending their grand slam victory from the previous year, they narrowly missed out on reclaiming the title with France ultimately winning the competition on points difference.[11]

References
  1. "James Grayson". England Rugby. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018.
  2. "James Grayson (Fly-half)". Northampton Saints.
  3. "Paul Grayson". Northampton Saints. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018.
  4. "Six players sign professional contracts at Saints". www.northamptonchron.co.uk.
  5. "GRAYSON'S LOVE AFFAIR WITH RUGBY". England Rugby. 6 March 2018. Archived from the original on 16 May 2018.
  6. "WANDERERS 36 GLOUCESTER 15 The Wandies clinch the Aviva 'A' League title". Northampton Saints.
  7. "Northampton Wanderers clinch second successive Premiership Rugby A League". Talking Rugby Union. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  8. "Three young Saints earn England under-20 call-up". Northampton Saints.
  9. "England U18 cruise past Wales in 5 Nations Festival". England Rugby. 7 April 2016. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018.
  10. "Wales U20 21-37 England U20" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  11. "Under-20 Six Nations Championship Table". Six Nations Rugby.
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