Wales set to poach talented England youngster

According to Wales Online, the 21-year-old Exeter Chiefs player, who was born in Haverfordwest, has opted to represent his birth nation despite previously featuring for England at under-20 level.

James initially played for Wales at under-18 level before switching to England U20, where he was part of the squads that won both the 2024 Six Nations Under-20s Championship and the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship. He also featured in the 2025 U20 Six Nations, scoring a try in a victory over France in Bath.

He made his senior debut for Exeter Chiefs in March 2025 during a 52–38 defeat to Bristol Bears in the Prem.

Later that year, he was selected again for England U20 in the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship, starting four matches and appearing off the bench once as the team finished sixth overall.

James has strong Welsh ties, as his father Chris played for Swansea, while his sister Crystal represents Wales. His mother is from Niue in the Pacific Islands.

At club level, he featured in eight of Exeter’s opening nine league games and played in all four of their European fixtures before suffering an ankle injury against Cardiff in January.

A move to Wales could potentially accelerate his path to senior international rugby, especially given the depth of competition in England’s back row under head coach Steve Borthwick.