For other people with the same name, see David Thomas.
For the rugby league footballer of the 1900s for Other Nationalities, and Oldham, see Dai Thomas (rugby league). For the rugby league footballer of the 1900s for Wales, Halifax, and Mid-Rhondda, see David Thomas (rugby league). For the rugby union footballer of the 1920s, and 1930s for Wales, Swansea RFC, and Glamorgan Police, see Dai Thomas (rugby union).
David John Thomas (15 March 1879 – 19 October 1925)[1] was a Welsh international forward who played club rugby for Swansea Rugby Club. He won ten caps for Wales and is most notable for scoring the only try in Swansea's win over South Africa in 1912.
Thomas played for several clubs throughout his career, all within the Swansea area, including his home town club of Dunvant. By 1904 Thomas was playing club rugby for first class Welsh team Swansea, and on 9 January he played his first international match when he was selected to face England as part of the 1904 Home Nations Championship. Thomas, along with John Evans of Blaina was one of two new caps brought into the Welsh squad, both into forward positions. Under the captaincy of Gwyn Nicholls, the Welsh team managed a 14-all draw, and both Thomas and Evans were dropped for the next game. Thomas' international career seemed behind him as he was left out of the rest of the 1904 Championship, and then ignored for the 1905 Championships.
In late 1905, Thomas was part of the Swansea team that faced the Original All Blacks in the New Zealand team's first overseas tour.[2] Captained by Frank Gordon, Swansea ran the tourist close in a 4–3 loss.
Thomas spent the next three seasons at Swansea, still without a second international call-up, but in late 1908 the Welsh selectors chose Thomas to face the first touring Australian team. The game was a tight affair, with Wales winning through a Bert Winfield penalty. Two weeks later, Thomas faced the Australians again when the tourists played Swansea at St. Helen's ground.[3] Swansea won the game through an Edgar Morgantry and a Jack Bancroft penalty, it was Swansea's first victory over international opposition. One month later, despite playing in two wins over the Wallabies, Thomas was replaced for the opening game of the 1909 Home Nations Championship match by Jake Blackmore a single-cap player from Abertillery. Even when Blackmore was replaced after his first and only appearance, the selectors still did not turn to Thomas, and he was forced to wait another season until he played for Wales again.
Thomas was next chosen to represent Wales for the England match of the 1910 Five Nations Championship, now renamed as France had joined the tournament. Although Wales lost the game, it began a run of appearances for Thomas who played in the next seven Wales matches. Having not been selected for the 1905, 1908 and 1909 Championship winning Welsh teams, Thomas was part of the 1911 Triple Crown winning side. After 1911, Thomas played in one final Welsh international game, an away loss to England in 1912.
Although his international career was behind him, Thomas' most notable rugby moment came in 1912 when he played in the Swansea win over the touring South African team. Under the captaincy of Billy Trew, Thomas was part of the pack that was decisive in the single try victory over the Springboks. In the first half of the game, under Swansea pressure a scrum went down on the South African 20-yard line. The Swansea forwards wheeled the scrum and kicked and chased the ball towards the South African line. Thomas was the first to the ball and scored the winning try.[4] The next season, Swansea rewarded Thomas with the captaincy of the senior team.
Billot, John (1972). All Blacks in Wales. Ferndale: Ron Jones Publications.
Billot, John (1974). Springboks in Wales. Ferndale: Ron Jones Publications.
Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN0-7083-0766-3.
david, john, thomas, other, people, with, same, name, david, thomas, rugby, league, footballer, 1900s, other, nationalities, oldham, thomas, rugby, league, rugby, league, footballer, 1900s, wales, halifax, rhondda, david, thomas, rugby, league, rugby, union, f. For other people with the same name see David Thomas For the rugby league footballer of the 1900s for Other Nationalities and Oldham see Dai Thomas rugby league For the rugby league footballer of the 1900s for Wales Halifax and Mid Rhondda see David Thomas rugby league For the rugby union footballer of the 1920s and 1930s for Wales Swansea RFC and Glamorgan Police see Dai Thomas rugby union David John Thomas 15 March 1879 19 October 1925 1 was a Welsh international forward who played club rugby for Swansea Rugby Club He won ten caps for Wales and is most notable for scoring the only try in Swansea s win over South Africa in 1912 David ThomasBirth nameDavid John ThomasDate of birth 1879 03 15 15 March 1879Place of birthDunvant WalesDate of death19 October 1925 1925 10 19 aged 46 Place of deathLlanelli WalesOccupation s collierRugby union careerPosition s ForwardAmateur team s YearsTeamApps Points Pontarddulais RFCGowerton RFCDunvant RFCSwansea RFC International careerYearsTeamApps Points 1904 1912Wales10 0 Contents 1 Rugby career 1 1 International matches played 2 Bibliography 3 ReferencesRugby career editThomas played for several clubs throughout his career all within the Swansea area including his home town club of Dunvant By 1904 Thomas was playing club rugby for first class Welsh team Swansea and on 9 January he played his first international match when he was selected to face England as part of the 1904 Home Nations Championship Thomas along with John Evans of Blaina was one of two new caps brought into the Welsh squad both into forward positions Under the captaincy of Gwyn Nicholls the Welsh team managed a 14 all draw and both Thomas and Evans were dropped for the next game Thomas international career seemed behind him as he was left out of the rest of the 1904 Championship and then ignored for the 1905 Championships In late 1905 Thomas was part of the Swansea team that faced the Original All Blacks in the New Zealand team s first overseas tour 2 Captained by Frank Gordon Swansea ran the tourist close in a 4 3 loss Thomas spent the next three seasons at Swansea still without a second international call up but in late 1908 the Welsh selectors chose Thomas to face the first touring Australian team The game was a tight affair with Wales winning through a Bert Winfield penalty Two weeks later Thomas faced the Australians again when the tourists played Swansea at St Helen s ground 3 Swansea won the game through an Edgar Morgan try and a Jack Bancroft penalty it was Swansea s first victory over international opposition One month later despite playing in two wins over the Wallabies Thomas was replaced for the opening game of the 1909 Home Nations Championship match by Jake Blackmore a single cap player from Abertillery Even when Blackmore was replaced after his first and only appearance the selectors still did not turn to Thomas and he was forced to wait another season until he played for Wales again Thomas was next chosen to represent Wales for the England match of the 1910 Five Nations Championship now renamed as France had joined the tournament Although Wales lost the game it began a run of appearances for Thomas who played in the next seven Wales matches Having not been selected for the 1905 1908 and 1909 Championship winning Welsh teams Thomas was part of the 1911 Triple Crown winning side After 1911 Thomas played in one final Welsh international game an away loss to England in 1912 Although his international career was behind him Thomas most notable rugby moment came in 1912 when he played in the Swansea win over the touring South African team Under the captaincy of Billy Trew Thomas was part of the pack that was decisive in the single try victory over the Springboks In the first half of the game under Swansea pressure a scrum went down on the South African 20 yard line The Swansea forwards wheeled the scrum and kicked and chased the ball towards the South African line Thomas was the first to the ball and scored the winning try 4 The next season Swansea rewarded Thomas with the captaincy of the senior team International matches played edit Wales 5 nbsp Australia 1908 nbsp England 1904 1910 1911 1912 nbsp France 1911 nbsp Ireland 1910 1911 nbsp Scotland 1910 1911Bibliography editBillot John 1972 All Blacks in Wales Ferndale Ron Jones Publications Billot John 1974 Springboks in Wales Ferndale Ron Jones Publications Smith David Williams Gareth 1980 Fields of Praise The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union Cardiff University of Wales Press ISBN 0 7083 0766 3 References edit David Thomas player profile Scrum com Billot 1972 pg 44 Swansea 6 Australia 0 1908 permanent dead link Swansearfc co uk Billot 1974 pg 122 Smith 1980 pg 472 Rugby Union CaptainPreceded byBilly Trew Swansea RFC Captain1913 1914 Succeeded byWorld War I Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David John Thomas amp oldid 1183080557, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
