Jim Stack had a long involvement with rugby union before he moved across to play rugby league with Wests. He played union with the Ashfield Borough team and coached that team in 1905.
The same year Jim was called into the Wests rugby union First Grade team and played there until 1907. In 1905 he was selected to play in a combined Metropolitan Second Grade rugby union team. He then played in the Metropolis First XV team that played against Country. He served on the Wests rugby union general committee in 1906.
Jim was instrumental in forming the Western Suburbs Rugby League Club at Ashfield Town Hall in February 1908. A motion by Jim Stack, seconded by Charlie Elliott, resolved to form a Western Suburbs Rugby League Club. He was Wests first Treasurer, and Delegate to the NSW Rugby League.
Jim also captained Wests First Grade team in 1908 and played through until the 1911 season. He was rewarded with selection in 1908 in the Possibles v Probables match played before the Australia v New Zealand Test. That year he was also a reserve for the Australian and NSW teams.
He also served on the Management Committee at Wests and in 1914 he was made a Life Member of the NSW Rugby League.
Jim Stack lived his life in the western suburbs district and died at Ashfield, NSW in 1970.
Combined Metropolitan Second Grade Rugby Union Team 1905
Jim Stack (back row, 5th from left)
