James Craig began his journey in professional rugby as a towering second row, joining Northampton Saints from Leeds Carnegie in 2011.
During his playing years, he made 73 appearances for the Club, contributing significantly in key moments – including reaching the 2012 Anglo‑Welsh Cup Final and playing an integral role in Saints’ 2014 double-winning season, when Northampton claimed both the European Challenge Cup and Premiership titles. Craig’s ability on the field also earned him a call‑up to England Saxons for their 2016 tour of South Africa.
Having assisted with coaching Saints’ Academy during his final playing seasons, Craig retired at the end of the 2018/19 campaign to embark on a full‑time coaching path. He stepped into the role of Developing Player Programme (DPP) Manager, supporting high-potential youth players through structured coaching and curriculum development. His early work included oversight of Under-16 and Under-18 sides, and time spent coaching at Bugbrooke RFC.
In January 2022, Craig was promoted to the first-team coaching set-up at Saints, taking charge of lineout strategy, maul coordination, and forward development across attack and defence.
His impact is tangible in the production of forward-oriented, lineout-dominant rugby and in embedding a culture of continuous improvement. Players he has nurtured from the Academy into the senior set-up reflect his commitment to homegrown success.
With Craig within the first-team coaching set-up, Saints claimed their first Premiership title in a decade in the summer of 2024, and went on to reach the Final of the Champions Cup in Europe the following campaign.
