The tallest man in the Tigers camp, James became a senior international during 2006/07. Although born in Swindon, he qualifies for Scotland through his father and became the country’s 1,000th senior international when he made his debut against Romania in November 2006. He went on to appear in the 2007 Six Nations Championship (making his tournament debut against England at Twickenham) and was later named in Scotland’s World Cup squad.
James joined the Tigers Academy in 1999 after being spotted playing for Warwickshire against Leicestershire and, by the end of last season, he had made more than 50 first-team appearances. He represented England at U-19 level, playing in the World Championships in Chile in 2001/02 and later became an U-21 international before traveling to New Zealand to play for Marist Albion in 2005. Having begun his rugby education with Coventry-based side Barkers Butts, the club that launched the careers of Neil Back and Leon Lloyd, James has also represented the Barbarians, playing against Scotland and Georgia in May and June of 2006.
James Hamilton is set to miss the rest of the 2008 RBS 6 Nations Championship after the injury that saw him stretchered from the field in the second half of Scotland’s defeat by Ireland on Saturday at Croke Park.
Tigers back row Tom Croft is in line to win his first senior England cap having been named among the replacements for this Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash against France in Paris.
James Hamilton has retained his place in the Scotland starting XV for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
