David John Thomas
Encyclopedia
David John Thomas 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.
area, including his home town club of Dunvant
. By 1904 Thomas was playing club rugby for first class Welsh team Swansea, and on the 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. Captained by Frank Gordon
, Swansea ran the tourist close in in 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. Swansea won the game through an Edgar Morgan
try
and a Jack Bancroft
penalty, it was Swansea's first victory over internetional 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. The next season, Swansea rewarded Thomas with the captaincy of the senior team.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international forward who played club rugby for Swansea Rugby Club
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
. He won ten caps for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
and is most notable for scoring the only try in Swansea's win over South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
in 1912.
Rugby career
Thomas played for several clubs thorughout his career, all within the SwanseaSwansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
area, including his home town club of Dunvant
Dunvant RFC
| teamname = Dunvant RFC | fullname = Dunvant Rugby Football Club | nickname = "The Vant", "Green & Red Hoops" | location = Dunvant, Wales | countryflag = Wales | founded = 1888 | ground = Broadacre | capacity = 3000...
. By 1904 Thomas was playing club rugby for first class Welsh team Swansea, and on the 9 January he played his first international match when he was selected to face England as part of the 1904 Home Nations Championship
1904 Home Nations Championship
The 1904 Home Nations Championship was the twenty-second series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 9 January and 19 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
. Thomas, along with John Evans
John William Evans (rugby player)
John "Jack" William Evans was a Welsh rugby union forward who played club rugby for Blaina and international rugby for Wales...
of Blaina
Blaina RFC
Blaina Rugby Football Club are a Welsh rugby union club based in Blaina in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent in Wales. They presently play in the Welsh Rugby Union Division Three East league and are a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons.- History :...
was one of two new caps brought into the Welsh squad, both into forward positions. Under the captaincy of Gwyn Nicholls
Gwyn Nicholls
Erith Gwyn Nicholls was a Welsh rugby union player who gained 24 caps for Wales as a centre. Nicholls was known as the "Prince of Threequarters"....
, 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. Captained by Frank Gordon
Frank Gordon (rugby player)
Frank "Genny" Gordon was a Welsh rugby union forward who played club rugby for Swansea Rugby Club. Although never capped for his country he is notable for captaining Swansea over two seasons, including the 1904/05 "invincible" season...
, Swansea ran the tourist close in in 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
1908-09 Australia rugby union tour of Britain
The 1908-09 Australia rugby union tour of the British Isles was a collection of friendly rugby union games undertaken by the Australia national rugby union team against invitational and national teams from England and Wales, as well as several games against sides from North America...
. The game was a tight affair, with Wales winning through a Bert Winfield
Bert Winfield
Herbert Benjamin 'Bert' Winfield was an English rugby union player who played international rugby for Wales. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks and captained Wales against Ireland in 1908...
penalty. Two weeks later, Thomas faced the Australians again when the tourists played Swansea at St. Helen's ground. Swansea won the game through an Edgar Morgan
Edgar Morgan
Edgar Morgan was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Swansea Rugby Football Club and the British Lions...
try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
and a Jack Bancroft
Jack Bancroft
Jack Bancroft , born John Bancroft, was a Welsh cricketer, and rugby union international. He was a right-handed batsman and a wicket-keeper who played for Glamorgan. Bancroft also played rugby for Swansea RFC...
penalty, it was Swansea's first victory over internetional 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
1909 Home Nations Championship
The 1909 Home Nations Championship was the twenty-seventh series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 16 January and 20 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales....
match by Jake Blackmore
Jake Blackmore
Joseph Henry "Jake" Blackmore was an international rugby forward who played rugby union for Abertillery and rugby league with Hull Kingston Rovers. He won a single caps for Wales under the rugby union code and then represented his country at rugby league in two matches between 1910 and 1911...
a single-cap player from Abertillery
Abertillery RFC
Abertillery Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club based in Abertillery. According to their web site, they were founded in 1883, though other sources state 1884. Their team colours are green and white and their home ground is Abertillery Park in Abertillery. The club is a member of the...
. 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
1910 Five Nations Championship
The 1910 Five Nations Championship was the first series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship following the inclusion of France into the Home Nations Championship. Including the previous Home Nations Championships, this was the twenty-eighth series of the annual northern hemisphere rugby...
, 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
Triple Crown (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, the Triple Crown is an honour contested annually by the four national teams of the British Isles who compete within the larger Six Nations Championship: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If any one team manages to win all their games against the other three they win the...
winning side. After 1911, Thomas played in one final Welsh international game, an away loss to England in 1912
1912 Five Nations Championship
The 1912 Five Nations Championship was the third series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship following the inclusion of France into the Home Nations Championship. Including the previous Home Nations Championships, this was the thirtieth series of the annual northern hemisphere rugby union...
.
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
1912-13 South Africa rugby union tour
The 1912–13 South Africa rugby union tour was a collection of friendly rugby union games undertaken by the South Africa national rugby union team against England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and France. The tour also took in several matches against British and Irish club, county and invitational teams...
. Under the captaincy of Billy Trew
Billy Trew
Billy Trew was a Welsh international centre, outside half and wing who played club rugby for Swansea Rugby Football Club. He won 29 caps for Wales and is seen as one of the key players of the first Golden Age of Welsh rugby union...
, 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. The next season, Swansea rewarded Thomas with the captaincy of the senior team.