English utility back James Stokes played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented Rugby FC LA (2024) and the Chicago Hounds for the latter half of the 2025 season.

Stokes began playing rugby while at high school in Nottingham and continued to play through his time at Nottingham Trent University. he set a National League One record during the 2017/18 season when he scored 21 tries for Coventry as they earned promotion to the English Championship, where he continued to represent them until moving to London Irish in 2019. Stokes played with Exiles from 2019 until they fell into administration in 2023, scoring tries in the Gallagher Premiership, Premiership Rugby Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.

Stokes signed with Rugby FC LA ahead of their first season under new ownership and relocating from Atlanta, and scored 1 try in 11 games (10 starts) for RFCLA in an admirable first MLR season. Stockes gained over 600m in possession and was named to the MLR Team of the Week in Round 3. While Stokes did not appear on an MLR roster to start the 2025 season, on April 30th, the Chicago Hounds announced that they had added James Stokes for the remainder of the season. He signed before the signing deadline on April 28th.

achievements

• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 3