Create an experience with James Hook

James Hook was part of the exciting generation of talents who came through at Ospreys in the 2000s that was dubbed by the Welsh press as "The Fab Four", a flamboyant fly-half and nerveless goal-kicker who helped his club to two Pro12 titles.

Born in Port Talbot, James started his senior rugby career with Neath, quickly established himself as the club's main penalty-taker, setting the record for the most points by a Neath player in a single season. 

In 2006-07 he played his way into the Ospreys first XV, playing a key role as the team snatched the Celtic League title by a single point. These were the glory years for Ospreys, peaking in 2008 when they provided 13 of the Wales starting line-up against England. By then James was well-established in the international side, having scored a try on his debut against Argentina. On his home debut he came off the bench to score 13 vital points in a 29-29 draw with Australia, a performance that earned him the Man of the Match. In 2007 he was selected as part of the Wales World Cup squad.

In 2008 James started as first-choice fly-half as Wales clinched the Grand Slam in that season's Six Nations Championship, including a Man of the Match performance in the victory over England. Able to play in several positions across the back line, James was called into the British & Irish Lions squad for the 2009 tour to South Africa. He came off the bench against Lions Super Rugby to score a try and kick three conversions. 

James played a pivotal role as Wales reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2011, where they were agonisingly edged out by France 9-8, having played most of the match with 14 men. By this time, James had signed for Perpignan, where he enjoyed three seasons in the South of France. During this time he was again part of a successful Wales squad, winning the Six Nations with yet another Grand Slam in 2012.

In 2014 James made the move to Gloucester, where alongside his former Ospreys teammate Richard Hibbard he helped the Cherry and Whites win the European Challenge Cup at the end of his first season.

James returned to Ospreys in 2017 as he wound down his playing career. The move also afforded him the chance to start his coaching badges and he has coached the under 18s and goal-kickers since 2018. In this time he also took his first steps into punditry with BBC Wales and wrote a series of children's books, published in 2020, called "Chasing a Rugby Dream". 

In total, James Hook played 81 times for Wales, his 352 points putting him fifth on the all-time list.

Away from Rugby James has a busy family life with a wife and three boys. He enjoys punditry, after dinner speaking and plenty of other sports, including football and golf.