Jamie Foster (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
James "Jamie" Foster is a professional rugby league
player who plays for St Helens in the European Super League
. His position
of preference is in the centre but he has been known to convert to the wings and fullback. Signing from local amateur club Blackbrook Royals ARLFC, Foster is also a recognised goalkicker.
, he finally made his first-grade début, after three years in reserve-grade rugby, playing on the wing in place of the injured Francis Meli
, where he kicked eight goals from as many attempts in a 56-16 win over Toulouse Olympique
. In his Super League debut the week later, again deputising for Meli, Foster looked impressive once more with the boot - kicking eight from eight in a 41-20 success over Leeds Rhinos
. In fact, his first failure with the boot only came in his third appearance, when, in a 54-0 Magic Weekend
win over Hull KR
, he kicked only two from six, whilst also scoring his maiden try for the club. He missed the cut for the Challenge Cup
game against Harlequins RL, but thanks to a recurrence of Meli's injury, Foster returned for the 34-42 loss at Salford City Reds
, in which he was brought off the field after ten minutes after a shocking display defensively. However, this did not end his run in the first team, as he started on the wing against Rovers in a 68-12 win, before being dropped for the loss at Hull FC. However, he returned to play on the right wing in a 24-22 win at home to Huddersfield, where he kicked five goals. The next week (in round 18) he was again on the wing for a 24-26 win over rivals Wigan Warriors
, where he kicked three from five and scored a try. He missed three games with a calf knock but returned for Saints in a centre role against Wakefield that saw him kick seven goals from nine attempts. He was also part of beaten finalists St. Helens where Wigan Warriors
won 22-10 in the 2010 Super League Grand Final
.
this season has been excellent, and we can all tell Jamie is loving his time in the first team and looks to have secured a first team place. He has made himself a fan favorite this season. In the first game of the Super League XVI
season St Helens RLFC played Wigan Warriors
in a repeat of repeat of the Super League final. In this game Saints were losing 16-0 at halftime and came back to draw 16-16 with Jamie coming off the bench to kick 2 goals. Foster then kicked 8/10 against Salford City Reds
in round 2. When Saints played Leeds Rhinos
, in Round 6, he scored 2 tries, including a round the back trick to score in the corner, and kicked 5 goals. In Round 12, I kicked a touchline goal to win the game for Saints against Castleford Tigers
. In the Challenge Cup Fifth Round Jamie kicked 11 out of 12 goals in a 70-0 thrashing of Featherstone Rovers
. Royce Simmons
, the Saints coach, has said "Jamie Foster's ability to kick points is vital to the Saints. The way Foster can turn four points into six, he can break the heart of another side through that." Jamie is currently the fourth top try scorer in Super League with 12 tries, and is the fifth top goal scorer with 58 successful kicks.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player who plays for St Helens in the European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
. His position
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
of preference is in the centre but he has been known to convert to the wings and fullback. Signing from local amateur club Blackbrook Royals ARLFC, Foster is also a recognised goalkicker.
Début season (2010)
In the fourth round of the 2010 Challenge Cup2010 Challenge Cup
The 2010 Challenge Cup is a rugby league football tournament which began its preliminary stages on 2 January 2010...
, he finally made his first-grade début, after three years in reserve-grade rugby, playing on the wing in place of the injured Francis Meli
Francis Meli
Francis Meli is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for St. Helens in the Super League competition. Meli has represented both New Zealand and Samoa in internationals. His usual position is on the wing....
, where he kicked eight goals from as many attempts in a 56-16 win over Toulouse Olympique
Toulouse Olympique
Toulouse Olympique are a French professional rugby league team from Toulouse, in the southwest of France. They were founded on 22 October, in 1937 two years after the founding of the French Rugby League Federation. Between 1995 and 2002 the club were known as Spacers de Toulouse, due to links with...
. In his Super League debut the week later, again deputising for Meli, Foster looked impressive once more with the boot - kicking eight from eight in a 41-20 success over Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
. In fact, his first failure with the boot only came in his third appearance, when, in a 54-0 Magic Weekend
Magic Weekend
The Magic Weekend, previously Millennium Magic, is a concept by the Rugby Football League to stage an entire round of Super League matches in prestigious and exciting cities to showcase the sport....
win over Hull KR
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
, he kicked only two from six, whilst also scoring his maiden try for the club. He missed the cut for the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
game against Harlequins RL, but thanks to a recurrence of Meli's injury, Foster returned for the 34-42 loss at Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
, in which he was brought off the field after ten minutes after a shocking display defensively. However, this did not end his run in the first team, as he started on the wing against Rovers in a 68-12 win, before being dropped for the loss at Hull FC. However, he returned to play on the right wing in a 24-22 win at home to Huddersfield, where he kicked five goals. The next week (in round 18) he was again on the wing for a 24-26 win over rivals Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
, where he kicked three from five and scored a try. He missed three games with a calf knock but returned for Saints in a centre role against Wakefield that saw him kick seven goals from nine attempts. He was also part of beaten finalists St. Helens where Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
won 22-10 in the 2010 Super League Grand Final
2010 Super League Grand Final
The 2010 Super League Grand Final was the conclusive and championship-deciding game of Super League XV. Held on Saturday 2 October 2010, at Manchester's Old Trafford stadium, the match was contested by English clubs St Helens and Wigan Warriors...
.
2011 season
Jamie has been in excellent form so far in 2011, scoring 14 tries and 77 goals, a total of 210 points, in 13 appearances and 3 from the bench. His partnership with Francis MeliFrancis Meli
Francis Meli is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for St. Helens in the Super League competition. Meli has represented both New Zealand and Samoa in internationals. His usual position is on the wing....
this season has been excellent, and we can all tell Jamie is loving his time in the first team and looks to have secured a first team place. He has made himself a fan favorite this season. In the first game of the Super League XVI
Super League XVI
The 2011 Super League season was the sixteenth season of rugby league football since the Super League format was introduced in 1996...
season St Helens RLFC played Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
in a repeat of repeat of the Super League final. In this game Saints were losing 16-0 at halftime and came back to draw 16-16 with Jamie coming off the bench to kick 2 goals. Foster then kicked 8/10 against Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
in round 2. When Saints played Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
, in Round 6, he scored 2 tries, including a round the back trick to score in the corner, and kicked 5 goals. In Round 12, I kicked a touchline goal to win the game for Saints against Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
. In the Challenge Cup Fifth Round Jamie kicked 11 out of 12 goals in a 70-0 thrashing of Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
. Royce Simmons
Royce Simmons
Royce Simmons is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player, currently the head coach of St Helens RLFC in the European Super League...
, the Saints coach, has said "Jamie Foster's ability to kick points is vital to the Saints. The way Foster can turn four points into six, he can break the heart of another side through that." Jamie is currently the fourth top try scorer in Super League with 12 tries, and is the fifth top goal scorer with 58 successful kicks.