James Lowe is a professional rugby union player who was born and raised in Nelson, New Zealand). He is of Māori and English descent and affiliates to the Ngāpuhi and Ngāi Te Rangi iwi). Lowe attended Nelson College, where he played rugby and also excelled in athletics and represented New Zealand Under-15s in basketball. After finishing high school, he started playing club rugby for Waimea Old Boys. Lowes international career began with representing New Zealand Schools in 2010, where he played a part in the teams victory over Australia. He later gained selection for the Māori All Blacks in 2014 and 2016, scoring tries and making notable contributions. However, Lowe became eligible to play for Ireland in November 2020 due to the residency rule. He made his Ireland debut in November 2020, scoring a try in a victory over Wales in the Autumn Nations Cup. He has since represented Ireland in the Six Nations and was part of the team that won the Grand Slam in 2023.