Jamie Daniel Peter Jones-Buchanan MBE (born 1 August 1981) is a British rugby league coach and former professional player. He was briefly the interim head coach for Leeds in the Super League XXVII season.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan
MBE
Personal information
Full nameJamie Daniel Peter Jones-Buchanan[1]
Born (1981-08-01) 1 August 1981 (age 43)
Bramley, West Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[2]
Weight15 st 6 lb (98 kg)[2]
PositionSecond-row, Prop, Loose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1999–2019 Leeds Rhinos 421 78 1 0 314
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2005–12 England 14 3 0 0 12
2007 Great Britain 1 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2022 Leeds Rhinos (interim) 5 2 1 3 40
Source: [3][4][5][6]

A second-row forward, he played for his entire professional career with Leeds, winning seven Super League Grand Finals, three World Club Challenges, three League Leaders' Shields and one Challenge Cup Final with the club. He played for England and Great Britain at international level.[6][5]

Background

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Jones-Buchanan was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. He is the half-brother of professional rugby league footballers Jodie Broughton, Austin Buchanan and Brooke Broughton.

He began playing rugby at Stanningley ARLFC and progressed through the Leeds Academy signing for the club when he was 15 years old.

Playing career

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His Leeds début was on 7 May 1999 against Wakefield Trinity.

Jones-Buchanan played for Leeds from the interchange bench in their 2004 Super League Grand Final victory against Bradford.[7] As Super League IX champions, the Leeds club faced 2004 NRL season premiers, Canterbury in the 2005 World Club Challenge. Jones-Buchanan played at second-row and scored a try in Leeds' 39-32 victory.[8] Jones-Buchanan played for Leeds in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final from the interchange bench in their loss against Hull FC.[9] He played for the Leeds club from the interchange bench in their 2005 Super League Grand Final loss against Bradford.

Jones-Buchanan started in the 2007 Super League XIV Grand Final victory over St. Helens, scoring the final try in a historic 33-6 win at Old Trafford.[10]

In February 2008, Jones-Buchanan helped the Leeds side secure their second world club title as they defeated 2007 NRL season premiers, Melbourne in the 2008 World Club Challenge at Elland Road.[11]

Jones-Buchanan played in 2008's Super League XIII Grand Final victory over St. Helens.[12]

He was named in the England squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[13] Jones-Buchanan's testimonial match at Leeds took place in 2009. That year Jones-Buchanan also played a key role in Leeds winning the League Leaders' Shield[14]

This was followed by the Leeds club becoming the first team in the Super League era to win three titles in a row as they defeated St Helens once again at Old Trafford winning 18-10.[15]

 
Jones-Buchanan representing England
 
Jones-Buchanan playing for the Leeds Rhinos

Jones-Buchanan did not enjoy the same level of success in the Challenge Cup however. Having lost to Hull F.C. in 2005, Jones-Buchanan started all three of Leeds successive losses at Wembley between 2010 and 2012.

He played in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Warrington side at Wembley Stadium.[16][17]

Jones-Buchanan played at second-row for Leeds in the 2011 Challenge Cup Final which was lost to Wigan, and the 2010 Challenge Cup and 2012 Challenge Cup losses to Warrington.

He played in the 2011 Challenge Cup Final defeat by Wigan at Wembley Stadium[18] and in the 2011 Super League Grand Final victory over St. Helens at Old Trafford.[19][20]

However, along with team mates Kevin Sinfield, Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow and Ryan Bailey he continued his period of unprecedented success in the Grand Final. All five players, who had emerged from the club's academy would go on to win six Grand Finals together defeating old foes St. Helens in 2011[21] before over turning Warrington in the 2012 Super League Grand Final when Leeds made more history by winning the title after finishing fifth two years running.[22] As well as winning back to back titles, the Leeds side had also started 2012 by becoming World Champions for a third time as they defeated Manly at a sold out Headingley in the 2012 World Club Challenge.[23]

He played in the 2012 Challenge Cup Final defeat by Warrington at Wembley Stadium.[24][25][26][27]

He played in the 2012 Super League Grand Final victory over Warrington at Old Trafford.[28][25]

In 2013, Jones-Buchanan crossed for a try in the 2013 World Club Challenge against Melbourne but the Leeds outfit lost out to the 2012 NRL season premiers 18-14 at Headingley.[29]

Jones-Buchanan finally got his hands on the 2014 Challenge Cup when Leeds defeated the Castleford Tigers 23-10 at Wembley Stadium.[30][31]

He missed the 2015 Challenge Cup Final due to an injury suffered in the semi-final win over St Helens.[32]

He played in the 2017 Super League Grand Final victory over Castleford at Old Trafford.[33][34][35]

Jones-Buchanan was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to rugby league football and the community in Leeds.[36]

Coaching career

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He took up an assistant coach role of Leeds Rhinos after retiring as a player, and stepped in as interim head coach following Richard Agar's sacking.

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Richard Agar
2019-2022
Coach
(Interim)
 
Leeds Rhinos

2022
Succeeded by
Rohan Smith
2022-present

Personal life

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He is married to Emma Jones-Buchanan, whom he met when he was 14, and has four children. He is a devout Christian and attends church on Sundays.[37] He has also supported the White Ribbon Campaign, a charity that encourages men to challenge violence against women.[38]

Away from rugby, Jamie is a huge part of his local community in Leeds. He regularly attends Christian worship across the country to speak about his own life journey and is a trustee of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, the charitable trust who work in the Leeds community.[39] He was also a governor at his former school Priesthorpe School in Leeds but is no more.[40]

Media

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Jamie Jones-Buchanan on stage at The Awakening. LEEDS 2023

A number of years ago, Jones-Buchanan began an interest in journalism and reporting on sport and Rugby League in general. What began as a blog on the Rhinos official website soon became a monthly column in Rugby League magazine Rugby League World. From here Jones-Buchanan joined forces with childhood friend Alex Simmons on a new TV and radio project called Rugby AM. He joined the Rugby AM team in December 2013 and has been ever-present since, putting in an incredible amount of hard work in his spare time to help Rugby AM grow. When he is not playing or training, it is likely you will see JJB doing some form of work for Rugby AM.[41]

In 2016, Jones-Buchanan took on another new role, that of acting. Jones-Buchanan made his stage début in the Red Ladder Theatre Company production Leeds Lads. Fans had a chance to see Jamie in the play which ran between Friday 17 June 2016 and Saturday 25 June 2016 at the Carriageworks Theatre in Leeds.[42]

References

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  1. ^ Companies House
  2. ^ a b "Jamie Jones-Buchanan Leeds Rhinos". www.superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 2015. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  7. ^ "2004 Grand Final". BBC. 16 October 2004. Retrieved 16 October 2004.
  8. ^ "2005 World Club Challenge". BBC. 4 February 2005. Retrieved 4 February 2005.
  9. ^ "Hull stun Leeds in Challenge Cup". BBC News. 27 August 2005. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  10. ^ "2007 Grand Final". BBC. 13 October 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
  11. ^ "2008 World Club Challenge". BBC. 29 February 2008. Retrieved 29 February 2008.
  12. ^ "2008 Grand Final". BBC. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  13. ^ "Purdham earns World Cup call-up". BBC. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  14. ^ "2009 League Leaders Shield". BBC. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  15. ^ "2009 Grand Final". BBC. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  16. ^ Scott, Ged (28 August 2010). "Leeds 6–30 Warrington". BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  17. ^ Wilson, Andy (28 August 2010). "Chris Hicks hat-trick leads Warrington to Challenge Cup triumph over Leeds". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  18. ^ Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Wigan's Challenge Cup win a team effort - Joel Tomkins". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  19. ^ "Leeds claim Grand Final glory as inspired Rob Burrow sinks St Helens". Guardian. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  20. ^ "St Helens 16 Leeds 32". Daily Telegraph. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  21. ^ "2011 Grand Final". BBC. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  22. ^ "2012 Grand Final". BBC. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  23. ^ "2012 World Club Challenge". BBC. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  24. ^ "Warrington's battered Brett Hodgson recovers to see off Leeds in final". Guardian UK. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  25. ^ a b "Leeds' Kevin Sinfield stars in Grand Final triumph against Warrington". Guardian. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  26. ^ "Leeds Rhinos 18–35 Warrington Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  27. ^ "Warrington Wolves Are Challenge Cup Winners 2012!". Warrington Wolves Official Site. 25 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  28. ^ "Grand Final: Warrington 18-26 Leeds". BBC Sport. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  29. ^ "2013 World Club Challenge". BBC. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  30. ^ "Leeds lift Challenge Cup after Ryan Hall's double stuns Castleford". Guardian. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  31. ^ "2014 Challenge Cup Final". BBC. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  32. ^ "Jones-Buchanan ruled out for remainder of the season". BBC. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  33. ^ "Castleford 6-24 Leeds: Grand Final 2017 – as it happened". Guardian. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  34. ^ "Grand Final 2017: Castleford 6-24 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  35. ^ "Danny McGuire guides Leeds to Grand Final success over Castleford". Guardian. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  36. ^ "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N17.
  37. ^ http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/leeds_rhinos_simple_life_for_jamie_jones_buchanan_interview_1_2250462 [dead link]
  38. ^ "White ribbon day".
  39. ^ "England star backs importance of sport in Schools : News : Leeds Rhinos | Official Site". www.therhinos.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016.
  40. ^ "Jamie Jones Buchanan, Trustee of the Foundation backs importance of sport in Schools : Leeds Rhinos Foundation | Official website". Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  41. ^ "Home". rugbyam.co.uk.
  42. ^ "Jamie Jones-Buchanan: Leeds Rhinos star makes stage debut in wartime drama - Yorkshire Post". Archived from the original on 17 June 2016.
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