James Hall (rugby union, born 1996)

James Robert Hall (born (1996-01-02)2 January 1996 in Durban, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing for Oyonnax in the French Pro D2.^[1] His regular position is scrum-half.

Playing career

Youth

Hall earned provincial selection as early as primary school level, when he represented KwaZulu-Natal at the 2009 Under-13 Craven Week held in Kimberley. He was the main kicker for the side and kicked five penalties during the competition, including three in their match against the Golden Lions.^[2]

At high school level, Hall attended Kearsney College, where he played rugby for their first team. He kicked a 62-meter penalty in a high school match against Westville Boys' High School in March 2014, with video footage of the kick appearing on several websites, both nationally^[3] and internationally.^[4] He earned a provincial call-up for the 2014 Under-18 Craven Week competition held in Middelburg, scoring one try for KwaZulu-Natal in their match against the Blue Bulls.^[5] He signed a contract to join Port Elizabeth-based union the Eastern Province Kings after school, and made a single appearance for their Under-19 side during the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship, in a 21–24 defeat to his hometown side the Sharks U19s in Durban.^[6]

He joined the EP Kings on a full-time basis for the 2015 season and he was a key member of the Eastern Province U19 side in the 2015 Under-19 Provincial Championship Group A, starting all fourteen of their matches in the competition. He scored one try during the season – in a 33–14 victory over the Leopards U19s^[7] – and also kicked nine conversions and seven penalties during the season for a personal points haul of 44 points, the second-highest in the team and joint-twelfth overall.^[8] He helped the Eastern Province Kings Under-19 side to eleven wins in their twelve matches in the group stage of the competition to finish top of the log to secure a place in the title play-offs. He started in their semi-final match against the Free State U19s, helping them to a 31–15 victory,^[9] and also in the final, where his side ran out 25–23 winners over the Blue Bulls U19s in Johannesburg^[10] to win the competition for the first time in their history.^[11]

Kings

On 13 December 2015, Hall was included on a list of 20 players released by the South African Rugby Union that would be part of the Kings squad for the 2016 Super Rugby season.^[12] He made his first class and Super Rugby debut in the Kings' match against the Bulls in Round Seven of the competition, starting in a 6–38 defeat in Port Elizabeth.^[13] He also started in a match against the Lions^[14] and played off the bench in their 27–73 defeat to Argentine side the Jaguares.^[15] He made his fourth appearance and third start at home to New Zealand side the Blues in a match that saw him score his first try in first class rugby, scoring against the base of the posts in the 14th minute of an 18–34 loss.^[16]

South Africa Under-20

In March 2016, Hall was included in a South Africa Under-20 training squad,^[17] and made the cut to be named in a reduced provisional squad a week later.^[18] On 10 May 2016, he was included in the final squad for the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship tournament to be held in Manchester, England.^[19] He started their opening match in Pool C of the tournament as South Africa came from behind to beat Japan 59–19,^[20] and their next pool match as South Africa were beaten 13–19 by Argentina.^[21] He played off the bench as South Africa bounced back to secure a 40-31 bonus-point victory over France in their final pool match^[22] to secure a semi-final place as the best runner-up in the competition. He was also used as a replacement in both play-off matches, as South Africa faced three-time champions England in the semi-finals – with the hosts proving too strong for South Africa, knocking them out of the competition with a 39–17 victory^[23] – and against Argentina in the third-place play-off final. Argentina beat South Africa – as they did in the pool stages – convincingly winning 49–19^[24] and in the process condemning South Africa to fourth place in the competition.

Oyonnax

In 2016, French Rugby Pro D2 side Oyonnax announced the signing of Hall on a three-year contract.^[25]

References