James Hume (rugby union)

James Hume (born 7 September 1998) is an Irish rugby union player who plays centre for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Ulster.

James Hume
Date of birth (1998-09-07) 7 September 1998
Place of birthBelfast, Northern Ireland
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight95 kg (15.0 st; 209 lb)
SchoolRoyal Belfast Academical Institution
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018– Banbridge 11 (36)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018– Ulster 76 (60)
Correct as of 21 October 2023[1]
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018
2021–
2022		 Ireland U20
Ireland
Ireland Wolfhounds		 7
3
1		 (5)
(0)
(0)
Correct as of 15 November 2022

Born in Belfast, Hume attended Royal Belfast Academical Institution and was a key part of the team that won three Ulster Schools' Cups in a row between 2015 and 2017.[2] After leaving school, he joined the Ulster academy ahead of the 2017–18 season,[3] while playing club rugby for Banbridge.[4] He made his debut for Ireland under-20s in their 41–38 defeat at the hands of Wales during the 2018 Six Nations Under 20s Championship on 23 February 2018.[5] He also represented the under-20s at the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[6]

He made his senior debut for Ulster on 29 September 2018, featuring off the bench in the province;s 64–7 defeat at the hands of Munster.[7][8] He made 11 appearances, including 5 starts, in 2018–19.[1] He signed his first senior contract with Ulster in February 2019, to join the senior squad ahead of the 2019–20 season.[9] That season, he made ten appearances, including nine starts, and scored two tries.[1]

In 2020–21 he established himself as Ulster's first choice outside centre, making 20 appearances including 19 starts, 132 tackles, and 155 carries with 43 defenders beaten,[10] and was named Young Player of the Year in the Ulster Rugby Awards.[11] He made his senior debut for Ireland in a 71–10 victory over the United States on 10 July 2021.[12]

In 2021–22 he made 18 appearances, all starts, scoring four tries,[1] was named in the 2021–22 United Rugby Championship Dream Team,[13] and was awarded Ulster's Men's Player of the Year and Rugby Writers' Player of the Year awards.[14] He was called up to the Ireland squad for their 2022 tour of New Zealand.[15]

References
  1. ItsRugby profile
  2. "Ulster's James Hume relives big Benetton tackle and looks ahead to bigger future". Belfast Telegraph. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  3. "Ulster Announce Academy Squad For 2017/18", IRFU, 28 July 2017
  4. Sarah Rendell, "Who is James Hume: Ten things you should know about the Ireland centre", Rugby World, 4 February 2022
  5. "Ireland U-20s Edged Out By Wales In Electric Eleven-Try Thriller". Irish Rugby. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  6. "Ireland U-20s Secure World Championship Status With Winning Finish". Irish Rugby. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  7. "Warwick set for 100th cap in Thomond Park". Ulster Rugby. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  8. "Academy due make Senior debuts". Ulster Rugby. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  9. "Academy trio commit futures to Ulster". Ulster Rugby. 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  10. Ulster 2020-21 - Who Did What?, The Front Row Union, 12 August 2021
  11. "Henderson Leads The Winners At Ulster Rugby Awards", IrishRugby.ie, 7 June 2021
  12. "Baloucoune wonder try sparks Ireland to life as they put 71 points on USA". the42. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  13. "The United Rugby Championship Dream Team Has Been Named", United Rugby, 7 June 2021
  14. https://ulster.rugby/content/2021-22-heineken-ulster-rugby-award-winners-revealed "2021-22 Heineken Ulster Rugby Award winners revealed"], Ulster Rugby, 23 June 2022
  15. Gerry Thornley, "Ireland name their 40-man squad for tour of New Zealand", The Irish Times, 14 June 2022
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