James Hook (rugby player)

James Hook

Full name	James William Hook
Date of birth	(1985-06-27) 27 June 1985 (age 31)
Place of birth	Port Talbot, Wales
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	96 kg (15 st 2 lb)
School	Central Junior School Glan Afan Comprehensive School, Port Talbot Neath College
Notable relative(s)	Mike Hook (brother) and Naidine (sister)
Spouse	Kim Tashara 2011-
Children	Harrison James William Hook
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half, Centre, Wing, Fullback Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2004–06 2011–14 2014–17 Neath RFC USA Perpignan Gloucester Rugby 16 68 77 (204) (801) (294) Correct as of 30 April 2017 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 2006–11, 2017– Ospreys 107 (796) National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2006– 2009 Wales British and Irish Lions 81 0 (352) (0) Correct as of 17 October 2015 National team(s) Years Team Comps 2005–06 Wales

Position(s)	Fly-half, Centre, Wing, Fullback
Senior career
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
2004–06 2011–14 2014–17	Neath RFC USA Perpignan Gloucester Rugby	16 68 77	(204) (801) (294)
Correct as of 30 April 2017
Provincial / State sides
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
2006–11, 2017–	Ospreys	107	(796)
National team(s)
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
2006– 2009	Wales British and Irish Lions	81 0	(352) (0)
Correct as of 17 October 2015
National team(s)
Years	Team		Comps
2005–06	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". Hook is Wales fourth highest all-time points scorer behind Neil Jenkins, Stephen Jones and Leigh Halfpenny.

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.

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.

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