Johnny Thomas (rugby)

John "Johnny"/"Johny" Thomas (c. 1881 – 25 September 1954[2]) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s, 1910s and 1920s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, and at club level for Maesteg RFC and Cardiff RFC, as a full-back or scrum-half, i.e. number 15, or 9, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, Wales, Glamorgan and Lancashire, and at club level for Wigan, as a stand-off or scrum-half, i.e. number 6 (number 10 in a 15-player team), or 7 (number 9 in a 15-player team).[1][3]

John Thomas
Personal information
Full nameJohn Thomas
Bornc. 1881
Aberkenfig, Wales
Died25 September 1954 (aged 73)
Ince, England
Playing information
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight11 st 0 lb (70 kg)
Rugby union
PositionFull back, Scrum-half
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Maesteg RFC
Cardiff RFC
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1904–≤04 Monmouthshire
≤1904–≤04 Glamorgan
Rugby league
PositionStand-off, Scrum-half
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1904–20 Wigan 388 108 439 0 1202
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≥1904–≤20 Lancashire
≥1904–≤20 Glamorgan
1908–14 Wales 8
1908–11 Great Britain 10 6 8 0 34
Source: [1]

Background

Johnny Thomas was born in Aberkenfig, Wales, after retiring from playing, he joined the Wigan boards of directors,[4] and he died aged 73 in Ince district, Lancashire, England.

Playing career

International honours

Johnny Thomas won caps for Wales (RL) while at Wigan including in 1908 against New Zealand, and won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Wigan in 1908 against New Zealand, and Australia, in 1909 against Australia (2 matches), on the 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand against Australia (2 matches), and Australasia (2 matches), and New Zealand,[5] and in 1911 against Australia.[1]

County honours

Johnny Thomas won caps for Glamorgan (RU) while at Cardiff, including against Devonshire, and won a caps for Glamorgan (RL), and Lancashire (RL) while at Wigan.[4]

Championship Final appearances

Johnny Thomas played stand-off in Wigan's 7-3 victory over Oldham in the Championship Final during the 1908–09 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 1 May 1909.[6]

County League appearances

Johnny Thomas played in Wigan's victories in the Lancashire County League during the 1908–09 season, 1910–11 season, 1911–12 season, 1912–13 season, 1913–14 season and 1914–15 season.[7]

County Cup Final appearances

Johnny Thomas played scrum-half, i.e. number 9 (in a 15-player team), in Wigan's 0-0 draw with Leigh in the 1905 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1905–06 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, on Saturday 2 December 1905,[8] played scrum-half, and scored a try in the 8-0 victory over Leigh in the 1905 Lancashire County Cup Final replay during the 1905–06 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, on Monday 11 December 1905,[8] played stand-off (in a 13-player team), and scored a try in the 10-9 victory over Oldham in the 1908 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1908–09 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, on Saturday 19 December 1908,[9] played scrum-half (in a 13-player team), and scored a try in the 22-5 victory over Leigh in the 1909 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1909–10 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, on Saturday 27 November 1909.[10] and played scrum-half, and scored a goal in the 21-5 victory over Rochdale Hornets in the 1912 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1912–13 season at Weaste, Salford, on Wednesday 11 December 1912.[11]

Notable tour matches

Johnny Thomas played stand-off, and scored a try, and 2-goals in Wigan's 16-8 victory over Australia in the 1908–09 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain match at Central Park, Wigan, on Wednesday 20 January 1909,[12] and played scrum-half, and scored a goal in the 7-2 victory over Australia in the 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain match at Central Park, Wigan, on Saturday 28 October 1911.[13]

Testimonial match

A Testimonial match at Wigan was shared by; Bert Jenkins, Dick Ramsdale, and Johnny Thomas.[4]

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Death details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  3. Graham Williams, Peter Lush, David Farrar (November 2009). "The British Rugby League Records Book [Page-108…114]". London League Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-1-903659-49-6
  4. Tom Mather (2010). "Best in the Northern Union". Pages 128–142. ISBN 978-1-903659-51-9
  5. "Papers Past – Evening Post – 14 May 1910 – Football". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  6. "1908–1909 Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  7. "Statistics at wigan.rlfans.com". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  8. "1905–1906 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  9. "1908–1909 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  10. "1909–1910 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  11. "1912–1913 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  12. "1909 Tour match: Wigan 16 Australia 8". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  13. "1911 Tour match: Wigan 7 Australia 2". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
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