Dafydd James joins ERC Elite

Dafydd James became the first player to win an ERC Elite Award for scoring 25 Heineken Cup tries after he opened the floodgates in a game of seven tries.
The former Wales and Lions wing raced 30 metres in the 33rd minute to write his name in the record books and pave the way for an impressive opening night for the Scarlets.

Now in his 11th season of European rugby James finally won the race to be the first player to score 25 tries in the Heinken Cup on his 51st appearance.

His first Heineken Cup try came for Pontypridd at Sardis Road on 7 September 1997. On that day his team, Pontypridd were beaten 21-15 by bath, but there was no stopping the Scarlets on their return to the Madejski Stadium.

If there had been agony for James and his team-mates on their previous visit, when they were pipped 31-28 by Northampton Saints in the 2000 semi-final, then there was ecstasy this time as they broke a run of four successive away defeats in the tournament and picked up a bonus point as well.

“Its fantastic to finally get to 25 tries and pick up the award. When you look at the quality of some of the players who have been around in this tournament then it is a big honour,” said James.

“I’ve trained and worked hard over the years, but you can’t do anything without a good team around you.

“I really enjoyed scoring that try and it bought back happy memories of the one I scored here in 2000.

“I know I’ve scored for a number of clubs in the past, but I’m with the Scarlets now and that’s al that matters.

“This is a fantastic group of players and hopefully we can go all the way this year.”