Jim Bacon played rugby union for Cross Keys RFC, and having appeared as a trialist for Wales (RU) some weeks before,[4] he moved north and made his professional début for English rugby league club Leeds against Bradford Northern at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 14 December 1918.

Jim Bacon played on the wing in Monmouthshire's 14-18 defeat by Glamorgan in the non-County Championship match during the 1926–27 season at Taff Vale Park, Pontypridd on Saturday 30 April 1927.

[11] Jim Bacon played at centre and scored 2-tries in Leeds' 11–3 victory over Dewsbury in the 1921–22 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1921–22 season at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Saturday 26 November 1921.

[12] The Leeds backline in the early 1920s was known as the Busy Bs, as it included; Jim Bacon, Arthur Binks, Billy Bowen, Joe Brittain and Harold Buck.

[14] Bacon's marriage to Vera (née Tatterson) was registered during second ¼ 1927 in Bramley district.