Gwyn Thomas (rugby)

William Gwyn Thomas (22 October 1892 – 11 January 1984[2]) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s who played rugby union (RU) for Cardiff and London Welsh, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, Wales and Other Nationalities, and at club level for Wigan and Huddersfield, as a fullback or centre.[3][4]

For the Welsh cricketer for Glamorgan CCC, and rugby union footballer for Neath RFC, see Gwyn Thomas (cricketer).

Gwyn Thomas
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Gwyn Thomas
Born22 Oct 1892
Treherbert, Glamorgan, Wales
Died11 January 1984(1984-01-11) (aged 91)
Indian River, Florida, USA
Playing information
Height5 ft 10+3⁄4 in (179.7 cm)
Weight12 st 6 lb (79 kg; 174 lb)
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1912–13 Cardiff 3 0 0 0 0
London Welsh
Total 3 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1915? Barbarian F.C. 1?
Rugby league
PositionFullback, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1913–15 Wigan 43 5 8 0 31
1918–19 Wigan 7
1918–2? Huddersfield
Total 50 5 8 0 31
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1914–21 Wales 2 0 0 0 0
1914–22 Great Britain 9 0 0 0 0
1921 Other Nationalities 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

Whilst playing for Wigan Thomas was selected to go on the 1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, playing as a fullback in the second Test match of the Ashes series against Australia.

It was claimed that Thomas played rugby union for Barbarian F.C. against South Africa in November 1915.[5] However the Barbarians website say that it wasn't him, that instead it was another Gwyn Thomas who also played rugby union for Neath RFC.[6][7]

Whilst playing for Huddersfield Thomas was selected to go on the 1920 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia. He was vice-captain, and played at fullback in all three Test matches of the Ashes series. He also played in two Test matches against New Zealand.

During the 1921–22 Kangaroo tour Thomas was selected to play for Great Britain at fullback against Australia in all three test matches of the Ashes, which was won by the British.

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Thomas family crypt"
  3. Williams, Graham; Lush, Peter; Farrar, David (2009). The British Rugby League Records Book. London League. pp. 108–114. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6.
  4. "The English Team". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  5. Collins, Tony (2006). Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain. UK: Taylor & Francis. p. 15. ISBN 9780415396141. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  6. "Barbarians website profile". Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  7. "Neath website report". Retrieved 22 September 2020.
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