Tom James was a promising athlete and represented Wales at 1500m, but decided on his 18th birthday to give up the track and his job in an Ebbw Vale factory to pursue a career in rugby. He rose from the Principality Premiership to the senior Wales squad in one whirlwind season. James scored 11 tries in nine games for Cardiff, and broke into the Blues team. He played in the Under-21s and Sevens sides, and in May last year was called into the Wales Test squad for the tour of Australia. Earned a place in the 41-man preliminary World Cup squad.