James Lomas (rugby league)

Jim Lomas
Personal information
Full name James Lomas
Born July→September 1879
Maryport, Cumberland, England, UK
Playing information
Height 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight 13 st 5 lb (85 kg)
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1895–00 Maryport
Rugby league
Position Three-quarter
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1900–01 Bramley 31 54
1901–23 Salford 315 212 471 0 1578
1910–12 Oldham 80 38 37 188
1913–?? York 52
Total 478 250 508 0 1820
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1899–?? Cumberland
1901–06 Lancashire
1904–11 England 13 6 0 0 18
1908–12 Great Britain 7 4 12 0 36
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
Salford

James Lomas (birth registered July→September 1879[1] – death unknown) birth registered in Cockermouth district, was a pioneering English rugby league footballer of the late 19th century, and early 20th century. Hailing from Maryport, Cumberland, his career lasted for twenty-four years from 1899 to 1923. A three-quarter and prominent goal-kicker, Lomas captained the Great Britain national rugby league team.

Early career

Lomas was playing for Maryport when they made the switch from rugby union to rugby league. In 1899 he made his début appearance for Cumberland aged 19, scoring the only try of the match which was a 3-0 victory over Cheshire at Whitehaven.[2]

1900s

Lomas became rugby league's first £100 transfer, from Bramley to Salford in 1901[3] (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £35,890 in 2013).[4] He then played in 1904's first ever international rugby league match for England against Other Nationalities. His club record for most points in a game (39), achieved for Salford against Liverpool City on 2 February 1907, still stands today.

Lomas was also notable for his goal-kicking style. He was the first player to stand the ball up on its end.[5] Lomas won caps for England while at Salford playing Centre, i.e. number 4, but arriving after the start of the match, in the 3-9 defeat by Other Nationalities at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 5 April 1904, in the first ever international rugby league match.[6] in 1905 against Other Nationalities, in 1906 against Other Nationalities, in 1908 against New Zealand, and Wales, in 1909 against Australia (3 matches) and Wales.[7] Lomas also won caps for Great Britain while at Salford in 1908–09 against Australia (2 matches, both as captain), in 1910 against Australia (2 matches), Australasia and New Zealand. Lomas captained the successful first British tour of the Southern Hemisphere which began on 4 June 1910. He also represented England in 1910 against Wales.[8]

1910s

In 1910 he joined Oldham from Salford for a fee of £300, (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £104,600 in 2013),[4] while there in 1911 playing for England against Wales, and Australia (2 matches). Lomas also played in Oldham's Challenge Cup loss to Dewsbury in the 1912 final. Also while at Oldham he represented Great Britain in 1911–12 Australia (2 matches).[9]

During Lomas' time there was Salford's 5-3 victory over Huddersfield in the Championship final during the 1913–14 season. Lomas' total points scoring world record of 2,340 stood until Jim Sullivan passed it in the 1928–29 season. He had also represented Cumberland, and Lancashire.

1920s

As the coach of Salford, player shortages forced Lomas to play in some cup matches for Salford in the 1922–23 season, and in 1923–24 season he was again forced to make some appearances, his last match for Salford, aged 43, was against Wakefield Trinity on 29 September 1923.[10]

Legacy

The Courtney Goodwill Trophy, international rugby league′s first, was presented for the first time in 1936 and depicted Lomas, along with other pioneering greats of the code, Jean Galia (France), Albert Baskiville (New Zealand) and Dally Messenger (Australia).[11]

Lomas was the subject of a book, The King of Brilliance: James Lomas – a Rugby League Superstar, which was published in 2011.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ↑ newsandstar.co.uk (17 March 2010). "'Name Man of the Match Award after Cumberland Legend'". News & Star (UK: CN Group). Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  3. ↑ Baker, Andrew (20 August 1995). "100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era". Independent, The (independent.co.uk). Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  4. 1 2 "Measuring Worth – Relative Value of UK Pounds". Measuring Worth. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Cann, W. A. (12 June 1946). "1908–09 Kangaroos blazed R. L. trail". Sydney Morning Herald, The (Australia). p. 9. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  6. ↑ Fagan, Sean. "The First International Rugby League Match". rl1895.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "Papers Past – Evening Post – 14 May 1910 – Football". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  10. ↑ Tom Mather (2010). "Best in the Northern Union". Pages 128–142. ISBN 978-1-903659-51-9
  11. ↑ “League Legends: fast facts about rugby league” at nsm.org.au
  12. ↑ Morris, Graham (2011). The King of Brilliance: James Lomas – a Rugby League Superstar. UK: London League Publications.

External links

Achievements
Preceded by
 Rugby league transfer record
Bramley to Salford
1901–1911 		Succeeded by
James Lomas
Preceded by
James Lomas		 Rugby league transfer record
Salford to Oldham
1911–1913 		Succeeded by
Billy Batten
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