James Hook (rugby union)

James Hook

Full name	James William Hook
Date of birth	(1985-06-27) 27 June 1985
Place of birth	Port Talbot, Wales
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	93 kg (14 st 9 lb)
School	Central Junior School Glan Afan Comprehensive School, Port Talbot Neath College
Notable relative(s)	Mike Hook (brother) and Naidine (sister)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Fly-half, Centre, Wing, Fullback
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2004–2006 2011–2014 2014–	Neath RFC USA Perpignan Gloucester Rugby	16 68 42	(204) (801) (162)
correct as of 5 February 2016.
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2006–2011	Ospreys	107	(796)
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2006– 2009	Wales British and Irish Lions	81 0	(352) (0)
correct as of 17 October 2015.
Sevens national teams
Years	Club / team		Comps
2005–2006	Wales

James William Hook (born 27 June 1985) is a Wales international rugby union player for Aviva Premiership club Gloucester Rugby.

Hook's strengths as a player include good distribution skills, great tactical awareness, and reliable goal kicking, but his popularity in Wales is largely also due to his exciting running style, which is a traditional facet of Welsh fly-half play. This has led to comparisons with New Zealand star Dan Carter and legendary countryman Barry John, who himself hailed Hook as "a real star of the future".^[1] Hook is Wales fourth highest all-time points scorer behind Neil Jenkins, Stephen Jones and Leigh Halfpenny.

Early and personal life

Hook was born in the southern industrial Welsh town of Port Talbot, the second of three children. His brother Mike Hook was also a professional rugby player, and sister Naidine a keen netball player.

Hook's childhood heroes were Neil Jenkins and Robert Jones – Jenkins because of his kicking ability, and Jones because he played in Hook's favourite position, which was scrum-half, the position he himself played for West Wales at the age of ten.^[2]

Hook attended Glan Afan Comprehensive School in the centre of Port Talbot, and Neath College where he started a half back combination with Martin Roberts.

In June 2011, he married model and long-term partner Kimberley Tashara. The couple have a son, born at Singleton Hospital on 23 December 2009.^[3]

In 2014, Hook announced that Kimberley was pregnant with their second child.

Career

Hook in action for the Ospreys

Club

Hook grew up playing schoolboy rugby with the junior & youth set-ups at various Port Talbot based clubs, such as: Aberavon Quins RFC, Taibach RFC & Corus (Port Talbot) RFC.

At senior level & before making the step up to regional rugby with the Ospreys, Hook enjoyed great success for Neath RFC, becoming the record holder for the highest individual points tally within a season. He also played for Neath College as a youngster.

Hook played his way into the Ospreys first XV in the 2006–07 Magners League season, giving outstanding performances at both fly-half and inside centre. He kicked a conversion in a Pool 3 match against the Sale Sharks during the 2006-07 Heineken Cup, clinching the Ospreys win following a try from Shane Williams.

In November 2010 it was announced that Hook would not be signing a new contract with the Ospreys.^[4] On 26 January 2011 James announced that he would be joining French Top 14 side USA Perpignan on a 3-year deal for the 2011-12 season despite warnings from Wales' national coach Warren Gatland that he may not consider players based outside Wales in his future squads.^[5][6]

On 2 June 2014, Hook was granted early release from USA Perpignan, following their relegation from the Top 14, to join Gloucester Rugby in the English Aviva Premiership on a three-year contract.^[7]

International

After excelling at under-21 level for Wales, Hook starred for the Welsh sevens team, scoring a match-winning try to defeat South Africa Sevens in the plate final of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Hook made his international debut against Argentina under new Welsh coach Gareth Jenkins, scoring a late try in the match.

Hook made his home debut for Wales against Australia on 4 November 2006 as a substitute for the injured Stephen Jones. He showed great composure in scoring 13 points as Wales drew the match 29–29 and was named as Wales' Man of the Match. Hook played against the Pacific Islands, scoring a try, and against Canada where he scored 16 points.

During the 2007 Six Nations Championship, Hook played in all of Wales's games, but was hampered by being employed at inside centre, rather than in his preferred position of fly-half for the first four matches. As a result, he struggled to make an impact. In the final game against England, however, he was finally switched to fly-half and produced a Man of the Match-winning performance, scoring 22 points in Wales' 27–18 win. He also completed his first "full house" in this match (scoring a drop goal, penalty, try and conversion). The victory was Wales' first over a 'Tier One' rugby nation since the 2006 Six Nations Championship victory over Scotland.

Hook put in a man-of-the-match performance as he helped Wales beat England 26–19 in the first game of the 2008 Six Nations Championship on 2 February 2008.

On 10 February 2008, Hook was selected at fly-half for the 30–15 win over Scotland in the 2008 Six Nations Championship. Hook scored a try and kicked two conversions and a penalty, before being replaced by Stephen Jones in the 58th minute.

In May 2009, Hook was included in the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa. He was called into the squad as a utility back to cover his Wales team mate, Leigh Halfpenny, who was forced to withdraw from the beginning of the tour with a thigh injury. He made his British and Irish Lions debut on 3 June, playing against the Lions Super Rugby team. Hook came off the bench in that game to score one try and kick 3 conversions. He did not however play in a test match on the tour.

In 2010, Hook was selected to the Wales 2010 Six Nations Championship team, playing for the first time at outside centre.

In January 2011 Hook confirmed he would join French side Perpignan on a three-year contract from the start of the 2011-12 season. His contract guaranteed availability for all of Wales's 2011 Rugby World Cup preparatory games. However, there is no clause covering future release outside of the normal International Rugby Board window.^[8]

References

External links

• Gloucester Rugby profile
• Ospreys profile
• Profile at the Official website of the Welsh Rugby Union
• Nigel Melville's scouting report in The Guardian, featuring James Hook
• Wales Profile