He played club level rugby union (RU) for West Hartlepool R.F.C., in the three-quarters,[3] and club level rugby league (RL) for Wakefield Trinity, in the three-quarters, and later as a forward.
James Auton played as a forward in Wakefield Trinity's 17–0 victory over Hull F.C.
in the 1909 Challenge Cup Final during the 1908–09 season at Headingley, Leeds on Tuesday 20 April 1909, in front of a crowd of 23,587.
[5] James Auton played as a forward in Wakefield Trinity's 8–2 victory over Huddersfield in the 1910 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1910–11 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 3 December 1910.
James Auton's marriage to Mary Ann (née Calvert) was registered on 3 October 1903 in Hartlepool,[6] they had children; Elizabeth Auton (birth registered during second ¼ 1904 in Hartlepool district), Margaret Ann Auton (birth registered during third ¼ 1905 in Wakefield district), James Auton (Junior) (born 6 February 1907 in Wakefield district – death registered 1962 (aged 54–55) in Salford district), and Frederick Auton (born 10 September 1910 in Wakefield – died 16 September 1963 (aged 53) in Blackpool).