James Valentine, also known by the nickname of "Jim Val", was an English rugby union, and semi-professional Northern Union footballer who played in the 1880s, 1890s and 1900s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for England and Lancashire, and at club level for Swinton, as a centre and club level rugby league (RL) for Swinton, as a forward. Prior to 2 June 1896, Swinton was a rugby union club.

The Lancashire County Rugby Football Union is the society responsible for rugby union in the county of Lancashire, England, and is one of the constituent bodies of the national Rugby Football Union having been formed in 1881. In addition it is the county that has won the County Championship on most occasions