James Lowes

James Lowes is a rugby league and rugby union coach, and a former professional rugby league footballer. He has been senior performance coach with Halifax Panthers since 2025.

He played rugby league for Hunslet and Leeds, and found most success with Bradford Bulls, from 1996 to 2003. He was signed by Leeds in 1992 for an initial transfer fee of £30,000. Lowes had usually played as a stand-off or scrum-half during his early career, but was converted into a hooker when he joined Leeds.

In August 2015, Lowes became assistant coach of the England national team, becoming Steve McNamara's assistant. Lowes helped England defeat New Zealand 2-1 in a three-test series in 2015. He then later left to take up teaching 14-19 year olds.

In July 2018 he returned to Leeds Rhinos as first team coach, after the departure of Brian McDermott. He became an assistant coach when David Furner took over in September 2018. He left the club in April 2019.

In 2025 he joined Halifax Panthers, where he is a senior performance coach.

Rugby union After retiring from playing rugby league, Lowes played amateur rugby union for West Park Leeds.

In 2013 he was named head coach at rugby union club Leeds Carnegie, partner club of Leeds Rhinos. He left in June 2014 to join Bradford Bulls. He returned to the club, then renamed Yorkshire Carnegie, in 2016, initially as assistant to Bryan Redpath, before becoming head coach in 2017. He left in June 2018.

From 2019, Lowes spent two seasons with Ealing Trailfinders as a skills coach. In 2021 he returned to West Park Leeds as director of rugby.