Justin Thomas (rugby player)
William Justin Lloyd Thomas (born 1 November 1973) is a Welsh International rugby union player. He made nine appearances for the Welsh national team, as well as representing Llanelli RFCCardiff RFC, Newport RFC and Caerphilly RFC in the top division of Welsh club rugby.
| Birth name | William Justin Lloyd Thomas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1 November 1973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Carmarthen, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 78 kg (12 st 4 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Carmarthen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Wales Institute, Cardiff | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas was playing for UWIC RFC in the second division of Welsh club rugby when he was first called up to the Wales national team squad, as an unused replacement for their Five Nations game against Scotland in March 1995. He was also included in Wales' squad for the 1995 Rugby World Cup, whilst playing at Cardiff Institute (UWIC) but didn't make any appearances during the tournament.[1] Thomas made his debut for Wales against South Africa in September 1995.[2] Thomas started all four of Wales' matches in the 1996 Five Nations Championship, as well as the friendly match against Fiji and Italy in 1996 where Thomas scored a try for the national team v Italy.
Thomas joined Cardiff RFC for the 1996-97 season, where he spent three seasons. He moved to Newport RFC for the 1999-2000 season. After one season at Newport, Thomas moved again to Caerphilly RFC,[3] where he could combine playing part-time with pursuing a teaching career.[4] By 2001, Thomas had returned to UWIC as a mature student, studying for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education.[5] While at Caerphilly, Thomas played in the 2002–03 European Shield final loss against Castres Olympique.
As well as playing for the full Wales team, Thomas also represented Wales Students,[5] and made two appearances for the Barbarians invitational side.[6]
References
- Woolford, Anthony (30 May 2015). "31 players you forgot had been to a Rugby World Cup with Wales". Wales Online.
- "Charteris: I'm ready for the challenge". Wales Online. 11 November 2004.
- Clutton, Graham (25 August 2000). "Welsh-Scottish League Club-by-club guide". The Telegraph.
- "Rees heads for France". BBC Sport Online. 1 July 2002.
- "Thomas has sympathy for Rhys' relegation". BBC Sport Online. 1 February 2001.
- "Player Archive - W. J. L. Thomas". Barbarian Football Club.
- "Player: JUSTIN THOMAS Wales". ESPN Scrum.