Clem Thomas

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Clem Thomas
Cambridge University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
  Cambridge University
Brynamman
Swansea
London Welsh
Harlequins
Barbarians		 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1949–1959
1955		 Wales
British Lions		 26
2		 3
(0)

Richard Clement Charles "Clem" Thomas (28 January 1929 – 5 September 1996)[1] was a Wales international rugby union player. A flanker, he represented Cambridge University R.U.F.C. in the Varsity Match in 1949 and played for Brynamman, Swansea, London Welsh and Harlequins. He earned 26 caps for Wales, between 1949 and 1959 and captained Wales in his last nine internationals.[1] After retiring as a player he became a rugby union journalist and author of books on the game.

Rugby career

Thomas first came to note as a rugby player while still a school-boy. A boarder at Blundell's School in Tiverton he gained four Wales School-boy caps while at the school. He gained his first full senior cap in the match against France in the 1949 Five Nations Championship.[2]

Thomas was also a member of the last Wales team that defeated the

Ken Jones, the flying Welsh winger, to gather the ball and touch down for the winning try.[2]

Thomas toured South Africa with the

Sailor Malan and rejoined the tour in time to be selected for the final two test matches against South Africa. Tony O'Reilly, writing after Thomas's death, felt that if Thomas had been available for all four games the Lions might have won the series rather than drawing it 2–2.[3] Thomas captained the Lions team in the game against Natal.[4]

Personal history

Clem Thomas was born in

The Independent on Sunday for the last two years of his life.[2]
He co-authored the book Welsh Rugby with Geoff Nicholson and wrote The History of the British and Irish Lions which he completed shortly before his death.

Thomas also owned

Beaujolais Day in the city can be traced to this period: Thomas also owned a house in Burgundy and could transport the newly released Beaujolais quickly and cheaply to south Wales for sale.[6]

Thomas also took part in politics. He stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for the

Carmarthen in 1979, and in the first direct elections for the European Parliament in Mid and West Wales in 1979.[2]

He died in Swansea in 1996 aged 67.

References

  1. ^ a b Clem Thomas player profile ESPN Scrum.com
  2. ^ a b c d e f Obituary of Clem Thomas, The Independent, 6 September 1996
  3. ^ Obituary:Clem Thomas Tony O'Reilly The Independent 11 September 1996
  4. ^
    ISBN 1-84596-030-0
    .
  5. ^ "The 2009 British and Irish Lions management team". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  6. bbc.co.uk
    . Retrieved 12 June 2021.


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clem_Thomas&oldid=1156514032"