Gareth Thomas (rugby player)

Rugger
name = Gareth Thomas


caption =
birthname = Gareth Thomas
nickname = Alfie
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1974|07|25
placeofbirth = Sarn nr. Bridgend
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height = 6 ft 3 in (1.92 m)
weight = 15 st 13 lb (101 kg)
ru_position = fullback|capital=yes, wing|capital=yes, rugbycentre|capital=yes
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = Wales
British and Irish Lions
ru_nationalyears = 1995-2007
2005
ru_nationalcaps = 100
3
ru_nationalpoints = (200)
(5)
ru_ntupdate = 2007-10-09
ru_clubyears = ?-1997
1997-2001
2001-2003
2003-2004
2004-2007
2007-present
ru_proclubs = Bridgend RFC
Cardiff RFC
Bridgend RFC
Celtic Warriors
Stade Toulousain
Cardiff Blues
ru_clubcaps = ??
??
??
??
??
15
ru_clubpoints =(??)
(??)
(??)
(??)
(??)
(15)
ru_clubupdate = 10:43, 18 February 2008 (UTC)
ru_currentclub =
ru_province =
ru_provinceyears =
ru_provincecaps(points) =
ru_provinceupdate =
ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam =
ru_sevensnationalcaps(points) =
ru_sevensupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
other =
occupation = Rugby Player
family =
spouse = Jemma
children =
relatives = Jamie Stone
school = Cantonian High
university =

Gareth Thomas (born 25 July 1974 in Sarn nr. Bridgend) is a Welsh rugby union player who currently plays at fullback, wing or rugbycentre for Cardiff Blues and mainly as a fullback for Wales. On 26 May 2007, he surpassed Gareth Llewellyn as the most-capped Wales player with his 93rd appearance.

Despite his undoubted skill on the field, Thomas has a reputation for being unpredictable, disruptive and aggressive; in 2005 Thomas was found guilty of assault whilst playing rugby in France [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4422684.stm BBC Sport: Rugby captain guilty of assault] ] and in 2007 was banned for four weeks for misconduct charges. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ulster/6300155.stm BBC Sport: Wales rule out Thomas ban appeal] ] Thomas was also implicated in the circumstances surrounding the departure of Six Nations-winning Wales coach Mike Ruddock and was involved in an explosive televised interview with BBC Scrum V pundit Eddie Butler about the issue. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/broadband/mediawrapper/consoles/sport/bb_rm_console.shtml?pack3-190206alfie_4x3 BBC Scrum V: Alfie On Scrum V] ] Thomas has been championed as one of the few players who successfully negotiated Rugby's transition from an amateur to a professional sport. Comments made by Gavin Henson indicating that he felt that the problem of 'player-power' had now gone since some 'senior' players had ceased to be involved with the Wales squad were widely interpreted as being a veiled attack on Thomas' time with Wales.

He is known as 'Alfie' due to a supposed resemblance to a character in a sitcom called "ALF". [http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/ru/si/profiles/thomas.html Yahoo! Sport: Gareth Thomas Profile] ] His way of celebrating tries by slapping his head is called 'the Ayatollah', used as a reminder that Thomas is a keen Cardiff City supporter (the Ayatollah is a popular celebration amongst Cardiff fans). [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/3701742.stm BBC Sport: Thomas turns gamekeeper] ]

Thomas created history when becoming the first Welshman to win 100 caps in Rugby Union, he scored a try and prevented another but Wales still lost to Fiji. He therefore became the first player to lose on his 100th international appearance.

Club career

Thomas started his career at Pencoed RFC at youth Level befor starting his first class career atBridgend RFC. He then moved to Pontypridd, but never actually played a game for them before re-signing for Bridgend. He then spent a spell at Cardiff RFC starting in 1997 before rejoining hometown club Bridgend again in 2001 and captaining them to a Welsh Premier Division title in 2003, in a campaign where they were unbeaten at home and only lost to runners-up Neath and Cardiff away. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/cardiff_blues/6281855.stm BBC Sport: Blues seek early Thomas release] ] He then joined the Celtic Warriors once the Welsh Rugby Union implemented its regional rugby plans for the 2003/04 season. After one season as captain of the Warriors, the region were disbanded by the then-WRU chief David Moffett and owner Leighton Samuel, although Thomas had already agreed a deal to join French club Toulouse where he was seen as the ideal replacement for soon-to-retire captain Emile N'Tamack. He helped the club to a Heineken Cup victory in 2005 after a victory over Stade Français at Murrayfield. On 20 January 2007, Cardiff Blues completed a deal to bring Thomas back to Wales for the 2007-08 season. This move wasn't without controversy as his former employers Toulouse claimed that he had registered to play with them during that season.Fact|date=October 2007.

International career

Gareth Thomas made his debut for Wales on 27 May 1995 against Japan. He scored a Welsh record-equalling four tries in the match against Italy in Treviso in 1999; one of only seven players to achieve that feat for his country. He held the Wales record for the most international tries with 40 until Shane Williams surpassed that total in the 2008 Six Nations, but still retains the record for most Test appearances for his country, with 100. He surpassed the try record previously held by Ieuan Evans in 2004 against Italy. He also got a hat-trick of tries in the 2nd Test against Japan in 2001; 51 appearances after announcing his arrival on the international scene with a hat-trick in the 1995 World Cup game against the same opposition. Equally at home at Centre, it was from that position he scored the longest intercept try ever seen at the Arms Park, a 90 metre dash against Australia in 1996.

Thomas was selected for The British & Irish Lions Tour of New Zealand in 2005. Following injury to Brian O'Driscoll in the opening minutes of the first test against New Zealand, he was made captain for the second and third tests of the series, becoming the ninth Welsh skipper in Lions history.

Thomas was named as captain for Wales' final match in the 2007 Six Nations against England after current captain Stephen Jones was ruled out with a broken wrist. When Thomas took the field, he equalled Llewellyn's Wales record of 92 caps. [cite web|url=http://wru.co.uk/2_9844.php |title=Thomas to deputise for injured captain |publisher=Welsh Rugby Union |date=2007-03-14] He broke Llewellyn's record when he led Wales out against nrut|Australia at Telstra Stadium in Sydney on 26 May 2007, a match that Wales lost 29-23 on a Wallabies try after the siren. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/6691839.stm |title=Australia 29-23 Wales |date=2007-05-26 |accessdate=2007-05-26 |publisher=BBC Sport ]

His 100th, and so far last test match was in his teams defeat by Fiji in the 2007 World Cup.

Health scare

Thomas suffered a major health scare after the resignation of Welsh coach Mike Ruddock in February 2006 was blamed on player power from senior players. He had received a blow to his neck during a match then later on whilst watching a televised recording of an interview he had given regarding his part in the Mike Ruddock affair, he fell ill and was rushed to hospital with a suspected stroke, which was brought on by a ruptured artery in his neck. It was feared this could lead to retirement but he somewhat miraculously resumed playing at the start of the 2006-07 French rugby season.

References

External links

* [http://www.cardiffblues.com/476_521.php Cardiff profile]