James Hume (born 7 September 1998) is an Irish rugby union player who plays centre for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Ulster.
Born in Belfast, Hume attended Royal Belfast Academical Institution and was a key part of the team that won three Ulster Schools' Cups in a row between 2015 and 2017. After leaving school, he joined the Ulster academy ahead of the 2017–18 season,"Ulster Announce Academy Squad For 2017/18", IRFU, 28 July 2017 while playing club rugby for Banbridge.Sarah Rendell, "Who is James Hume: Ten things you should know about the Ireland centre", Rugby World, 4 February 2022 He made his debut for Ireland under-20s in their 41–38 defeat at the hands of Wales during the 2018 Six Nations Under 20s Championship on 23 February 2018. He also represented the under-20s at the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.
He made his senior debut for Ulster on 29 September 2018, featuring off the bench in the province;s 64–7 defeat at the hands of Munster. He made 11 appearances, including 5 starts, in 2018–19. He signed his first senior contract with Ulster in February 2019, to join the senior squad ahead of the 2019–20 season. That season, he made ten appearances, including nine starts, and scored two tries.
In 2020–21 he established himself as Ulster's first choice outside centre, making 20 appearances including 19 starts, 132 tackles, and 155 carries with 43 defenders beaten,Ulster 2020-21 - Who Did What?, The Front Row Union, 12 August 2021 and was named Young Player of the Year in the Ulster Rugby Awards."Henderson Leads The Winners At Ulster Rugby Awards", IrishRugby.ie, 7 June 2021 He made his senior debut for Ireland in a 71–10 victory over the United States on 10 July 2021.
In 2021–22 he made 18 appearances, all starts, scoring four tries, was named in the 2021–22 United Rugby Championship Dream Team,"The United Rugby Championship Dream Team Has Been Named", United Rugby, 7 June 2021 and was awarded Ulster's Men's Player of the Year and Rugby Writers' Player of the Year awards."2021-22 Heineken Ulster Rugby Award winners revealed", Ulster Rugby, 23 June 2022 He was called up to the Ireland squad for their 2022 tour of New Zealand.Gerry Thornley, "Ireland name their 40-man squad for tour of New Zealand", The Irish Times, 14 June 2022 He made his hundredth appearance for Ulster against the Dragons on the opening night of 2025–26 season.Peter Lockhart, "Ulster fight back to score six tries on opening night after disastrous start against Dragons", Belfast Telegraph, 26 September 2025
References
External links
Ulster Rugby profile United Rugby Championship profile
Ireland profile Banbridge RFC Profile