James Pritchard (rugby) - International Career

International Career

With a grandfather from Ruthilda, Saskatchewan, Pritchard came to Canada to play for the Rugby Canada Super League side Prairie Fire in 2003, and to pursue a 2003 Rugby World Cup place with Canada. Pritchard made his international debut a few months later for Canada in a non cap match against the New Zealand Maori in Calgary in July 2003 and then played in 3 capped matches in a pan American tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina in August before making the World Cup squad for the 2003 Rugby World Cup, where he scored conversions against Wales and Tonga.

After a few years in the rugby wilderness, Pritchard was recalled for Canada in 2006, setting a new Canadian scoring record of 29 points in a World Cup Qualifying game against Barbados. He then surpassed that against the United States in Canada's 2007 Rugby World Cup - Americas qualification game in Newfoundland in August 2006, with 36 points from three tries, three penalties and six conversions. In that same year Pritchard was also voted Canada's Player of the Year by Canadian Rugby News.

Pritchard was also selected for the Canadian squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and was Canada's main kicker for the tournament, in which he played in all four of Canada's pool games against Wales, Fiji, Japan and Australia.

In 2011 Pritchard was once again selected for the Canadian Squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Making this his 3rd Rugby World Cup for the Canadians. He played Fullback in Canada's first 3 games against Tonga, France and Japan, before being ruled out for selection against the All Blacks due to concussion he picked up in the previous game against Japan.