The explosive back rower is assessing his options as he targets full international honours
12:29, 20 Jul 2025Updated 12:32, 20 Jul 2025
James says he is open to representing Wales again(Image: Harry Trump/Getty Images)
England U20s star Kane James has admitted he is open to once again representing Wales on the international stage, one year on from switching allegiances to the Red Rose.
The 20-year-old Exeter Chiefs back row originally hails from Haverfordwest and qualifies for both England and Wales, as well as New Zealand. He previously represented Wales at U18 level but made the switch to England last year, playing a pivotal role in their historic Six Nations and World Rugby U20 Championship double.
However, his time with Mark Mapletoft’s side came to an end on Saturday as defeat to Australia consigned England to a sixth-place finish at this year’s U20s World Championships in Italy. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
Despite the disappointment of not defending the title his side won last summer, James enjoyed another impressive individual tournament campaign on both sides of the ball, getting on the scoresheet twice in his side’s 56-19 hammering of Scotland in the opening game.
But after bringing down the curtain on his U20s career, the youngster is now setting his sights on winning full international honours, and admits he is open to switching back to Wales in order to do so.
Although the likes of Jac Morgan and Aaron Wainwright have been shining lights for Wales in an otherwise dismal 18 months or so, James will likely fancy his chances of breaking into the senior team over establishing himself in the English back row, where the likes of Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Ted Hill and Henry Pollock currently provide Steve Borthwick with an embarrassment of riches.
“I’ve loved my time in England U20s,” he told The Rugby Paper. “But I mean, it’s now about whatever opportunities come.
“I’m not tied down anywhere; I’m open to opportunities. Whatever happens, happens. There’s a wealth of talent there [in the England senior team].
“If it’s with England, then so be it. But if it’s with Wales as well, I’m open to that too.”
James’ admission comes after Wales U20s boss Richard Whiffin confirmed that the Welsh Rugby Union had made contact with the Exeter Chiefs talent in an effort to “keep a relationship” with him and leave the door open to a potential return.
The 20-year-old – who played his junior rugby for St Peter’s in Cardiff before being picked up by Exeter – has long been seen as a talent with a huge ceiling, with his destructive ball-carrying ability and explosive physicality seeing him touted as a future high-class Test- level player.
After persuading his Chiefs team-mate Luke Evans to make the switch from England U18s to Wales U20s earlier this year, it is hoped by many on this side of the Severn Bridge that the WRU can follow up that coup by also bringing James back to the Welsh game.
Confirming the union’s interest in such a switch back in March, Whiffin said: “It’s not about persuasion, it’s about keeping a relationship with him and keeping in contact with him and letting him know he’s someone the union see as a potential international player of the future.
“At some point an international coach, be it for England or Wales, has got to make a decision and then that puts Kane in a situation where he has to make a decision. But from our point of view pathway-wise it’s about keeping those relationships.
“Yes, we’d love him to be in a red jersey but he qualifies for three different countries,” Whiffin added. “At the moment he’s in that English pathway but certainly we are keeping in contact with him from a Welsh point of view.”