Career
Hailing from Maryport, Cumberland, his career lasted for twenty-four years from 1899 to 1923. A three-quarter and prominent goal-kicker, Lomas captained the Great Britain national rugby league team Lomas was playing for Maryport when they made the switch from rugby union to rugby league.
In 1899 he made his début appearance for Cumberland aged 19, scoring the only try of the match which was a 3-0 victory over Cheshire at Whitehaven.
Lomas became rugby league"s first £100 transfer, from Bramley to Salford in 1901 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £35,890 in 2013). He then played in 1904"s first ever international rugby league match for England against Other Nationalities.
Lomas was also notable for his goal-kicking style. He was the first player to stand the ball up on its education in 1905 against Other Nationalities, in 1906 against Other Nationalities, in 1908 against New Zealand, and Wales, in 1909 against Australia (3 matches) and Wales.
Lomas captained the successful first British tour of the Southern Hemisphere which began on 4 June 1910.
He also represented England in 1910 against Wales. In 1910 he joined Oldham from Salford for a fee of £300, (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £104,600 in 2013), while there in 1911 playing for England against Wales, and Australia (2 matches). Lomas also played in Oldham"s Challenge Cup loss to Dewsbury in the 1912 final.
Also while at Oldham he represented Great Britain in 1911-1912 Australia (2 matches).
During Lomas" time there was Salford"s 5-3 victory over Huddersfield in the Championship final during the 1913-1914 season. Lomas" total points scoring world record of 2,340 stood until Jim Sullivan passed it in the 1928-1929 season.
He had also represented Cumberland, and Lancashire. As the coach of Salford, player shortages forced Lomas to play in some cup matches for Salford in the 1922-1923 season, and in 1923-1924 season he was again forced to make some appearances, his last match for Salford, aged 43, was against Wakefield Trinity on 29 September 1923.
The Courtney Goodwill Trophy, international rugby league′s first, was presented for the first time in 1936 and depicted Lomas, along with other pioneering greats of the code, Jean Galia (France), Albert Baskiville (New Zealand) and Dally Messenger (Australia).
Lomas was the subject of a book, The King of Brilliance: James Lomas – a Rugby League Superstar, which was published in 2011.
