Jim Valentine played representative level rugby union for England and Lancashire, and at club level for Swinton, as a centre and club level rugby league for Swinton, as a forward.
12 Facts About Jim Valentine
1.
2.
Jim Valentine operated the Duchy Inn on Brindle Heath Road, in Pendleton.
3.
Jim Valentine began playing rugby at a very young age, being only nine years old when he joined the second team of Brindle Heath Lads Club.
4.
Jim Valentine was elected captain of the Pendleton club when it was formed.
5.
Jim Valentine was first selected for England while at Swinton in 1888, but due to internal arguments with the other Home Nation unions, England failed to play an international game until 1890.
6.
Jim Valentine gained his first international cap in 1890 against Wales, and again in 1896 against Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
7.
Jim Valentine played at county level making 60 appearances for Lancashire.
8.
When Swinton converted from the rugby union code to the Northern Rugby Football Union code on Tuesday 2 June 1896, Jim Valentine was banned by the Rugby Football Union from playing rugby union as he remained with the club when it turned professional.
9.
Jim Valentine was killed when he, his wife and her sister were struck by lightning while on holiday in Barmouth in Wales on 25 July 1904.
10.
Jim Valentine's tackling was about his strongest point, and for his club and county he possessed a wonderful record as a try-getter.
11.
Jim Valentine was buried on 29 July 1904, on what would have been his 38th birthday, at St John's churchyard in Pendlebury.
12.
Jim Valentine is believed to be one of two people after whom the Jim Valentine Cup, a long running amateur rugby competition in the Manchester area, is named.