Gavin Thomas

Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, Thomas moved to Wales at a young age and attended Ogmore Comprehensive School in Bridgend. He began his rugby career with Tondu RFC before joining Welsh Premiership side Bridgend Ravens. In 1999, he moved to England to play for Bath; in four years there, he made over 100 appearances before moving back to Wales to join the newly founded Swansea-based regional side, the Ospreys.{{cite news |title=Ospreys swoop for Lloyd |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3260403.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=11 November 2003 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} In February 2004, Thomas was transfer-listed by the Ospreys,{{cite news |title=Ospreys ditch Wales duo |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3454049.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=3 February 2004 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} and after only a year in Swansea, he moved to their Llanelli-based rivals, the Scarlets, on an initial two-year deal.{{cite news |title=Jones joins Montferrand |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3640357.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=5 May 2004 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} At the end of the season, having finished fifth in the Celtic League, the Scarlets beat the Newport Gwent Dragons and the Ospreys in the Celtic Cup; however, they lost 27–16 to Munster in the final.{{cite news |title=Munster 27-16 Scarlets |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/4529321.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=14 May 2005 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }}

In December 2005, midway through his second season as the Scarlets' starting openside flanker, Thomas signed a contract extension, keeping him with the region for another two or three years.{{cite news |title=Peel signs new Scarlets contract |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/4483024.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=6 December 2005 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} At the end of the season, the Scarlets reached the final of the 2005–06 Powergen Cup; Thomas started the match, but was unable to prevent a 26–10 loss to London Wasps.{{cite news |title=Scarlets 10-26 Wasps |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/4868066.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=9 April 2006 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} In 2006–07, Thomas rotated at openside flanker with Simon Easterby and James Bater. The team finished fourth in the Celtic League that season, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup. The Scarlets extended Thomas' contract by another three years in July 2007.{{cite news |title=Scarlets players sign extensions |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/llanelli_scarlets/6274562.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=5 July 2007 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} Thomas again shared openside duties with Bater in 2007–08, though he was the preferred choice in the Heineken Cup; he started four of the Scarlets' six group stage games, though the team lost all six matches and finished bottom of a group also containing Munster, Clermont and Wasps.

Thomas started each of the Scarlets' first eight matches in 2008–09; however, in an Anglo-Welsh Cup game against Northampton Saints in November 2008, after coming on as a substitute, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon that ruled him out for the remainder of the season.{{cite news |first=James |last=Standley |title=Northampton 33-20 Scarlets |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7695370.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=1 November 2008 |accessdate=15 August 2022 }}{{cite news |title=Thomas injury blow hits Scarlets |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/llanelli_scarlets/7739714.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=20 November 2008 |accessdate=15 August 2022 }} In March 2009, the Scarlets confirmed that Thomas would be released at the end of the season as he had been injured for more than 26 weeks, activating a release clause in his contract.{{cite news |title=Thomas & Maling to leave Scarlets |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/llanelli_scarlets/7973024.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=30 March 2009 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} Although he considered retiring from rugby following his release,{{cite news |title=Wales' Gavin Thomas relishes battle with Richie McCaw |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8746609.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=17 June 2010 |accessdate=15 August 2022 }} Thomas was picked up by the Dragons on a one-year contract in July 2009.{{cite news |title=Dragons sign Wales flanker Thomas |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8139041.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=7 July 2009 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} After playing in 23 matches in his first season with the Dragons,{{cite web |title=Gavin Thomas |url=https://www.dragonsrugby.wales/teams/player/dragons/103918/gavin-thomas.html |website=dragonsrugby.wales |publisher=Dragons Rugby |accessdate=15 August 2022 }} the region extended Thomas' contract for another two years.{{cite news |title=Dragons duo sign new deals |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/6092774/dragons-duo-sign-new-deals |work=Sky Sports |date=14 April 2010 |accessdate=15 August 2022 }} In 2010–11, the Dragons won three of their four pool matches in the LV Cup to finish top of their pool and qualify for the semi-finals; Thomas missed the first two matches before playing in the second two as a replacement, the first a 28–20 away win over Sale Sharks,{{cite news |title=Sale Sharks 20-28 Newport-Gwent Dragons |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/9376864.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=28 January 2011 |accessdate=15 August 2022 }} followed by a 26–9 home win over the Scarlets.{{cite news |title=Newport Gwent Dragons 26-9 Scarlets |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/9385155.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=6 February 2011 |accessdate=15 August 2022 }} He was then left out of the semi-final against Gloucester, as the Dragons lost 45–17.{{cite news |title=Gloucester 45-17 NG Dragons |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/9417529.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=13 March 2011 |accessdate=15 August 2022 }} Thomas remained a regular starter for the Dragons in 2011–12, but made his last appearance for the team in February 2012.{{cite news |title=RaboDirect Pro12: Aironi 9-10 NG Dragons |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/17119892 |website=BBC Sport |date=26 February 2012 |accessdate=15 August 2022 }} He was forced to retire from rugby at the end of the season due to ongoing problems with his knees.{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Kirwan |title=Gavin Thomas forced to retire |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/9768213.gavin-thomas-forced-to-retire/ |work=South Wales Argus |publisher=Newsquest Media Group |date=19 June 2012 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }}

Thomas made his senior international debut for Wales on their 2001 tour of Japan, taking advantage of the senior players being absent on the Lions tour to Australia. He started the test matches on 10 and 17 June, scoring his first two tries for Wales in the second test.{{cite news |title=Wales inspired by Williams |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/1381020.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=10 June 2001 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }}{{cite news |title=Nine-try Wales too strong for Japan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/1393021.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=17 June 2001 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} He started again in a match against Romania in September 2001,{{cite news |title=Charvis leads Romania rout |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/1553218.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=19 September 2001 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} and was named on the bench for Wales' rescheduled 2001 Six Nations Championship match against Ireland a month later.{{cite news |title=Ireland hammer poor Welsh |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2001/six_nations/1597511.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=13 October 2001 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} He returned to the starting line-up for the Autumn international match against Argentina, before again making substitute appearances in the matches against Tonga and Australia.

Thomas was named on the bench for the second match of the 2002 Six Nations against France, but did not come on;{{cite news |title=Wales denied by French resistance |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/1822227.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=16 February 2002 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} he did come on at half-time in the final game against Scotland, however, but was unable to prevent Wales losing the match 27–22, which meant they finished fifth in the championship.{{cite news |title=Scots' late show stuns Wales |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/1915028.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=6 April 2002 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} That summer, he was named in the squad for Wales' tour of South Africa; he was left out of the first test,{{cite news |title=Brave Wales downed by Boks |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/2031184.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=8 June 2002 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} but was picked as a replacement for the second, coming on for the last 10 minutes as Wales lost 19–8.{{cite news |title=Clockwatch: South Africa 19-8 Wales |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/2043866.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=15 June 2002 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} Thomas played in just one of Wales' Autumn internationals in 2002, coming on as a replacement in the first match against Romania,{{cite news |title=Unconvincing Wales see off Romania |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/2388131.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=1 November 2002 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} but played in four of Wales' five matches in the 2003 Six Nations Championship, starting against England and Scotland, and coming on as a replacement against France and Italy. He then played twice in warm-up matches ahead of the 2003 Rugby World Cup, coming on as a replacement in a 43–9 loss to England at the Millennium Stadium{{cite news |title=England crush woeful Wales |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/3176179.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=23 August 2003 |accessdate=19 September 2022 }} before starting in a 54–8 win over Romania at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham, scoring the fifth of Wales' six tries.{{cite news |title=Wales win at last |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/3179369.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=27 August 2003 |accessdate=19 September 2022 }}

After that, following his move to the Ospreys and subsequently to the Scarlets, Thomas was left out of the Wales team for over three years, returning for two tests against Argentina in June 2006, receiving a yellow card in the first for killing the ball.{{cite news |title=Argentina 27-25 Wales |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/5063934.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=11 June 2006 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }}{{cite news |title=Argentina 45-27 Wales |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/5084264.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=17 June 2006 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} This was followed by the Autumn international against the Pacific Islanders that November.{{cite news |title=Wales 38-20 Pacific Islanders |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6130202.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=11 November 2006 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} That was his only appearance in the Autumn, but he did return for the opening match of the 2007 Six Nations against Ireland, coming on as a replacement,{{cite news |first=Bruce |last=Pope |title=Wales 9-19 Ireland |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6321433.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=4 February 2007 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} only to miss the remainder of the tournament. For Wales' tour of Australia in the summer, coach Gareth Jenkins elected to leave out 18 of his key players in favour of sending them for intensive conditioning ahead of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, including back rowers Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones and Alix Popham;{{cite news |title=Jenkins to name Wales touring party |url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/2007/04/30/jenkins-to-name-wales-touring-party/ |website=sixnationsrugby.com |publisher=Six Nations Rugby |date=30 April 2007 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} despite fellow openside flankers Colin Charvis and Robin Sowden-Taylor also touring,{{cite news |title=Henson handed Wales tour chance |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/6608043.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=30 April 2007 |accessdate=15 August 2022 }} Thomas won the battle to become the first-choice openside and started in both tests.{{cite news |title=Australia 29-23 Wales |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/6691839.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=26 May 2007 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }}{{cite news |title=Australia 31-0 Wales |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/6711553.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=2 June 2007 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} Despite this, he was left out of the 30-man squad for the World Cup.{{cite news |title=Thomas leads Wales at World Cup |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/6938523.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=10 August 2007 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }}

Thomas also missed Wales' Grand Slam campaign in the 2008 Six Nations Championship, before his torn Achilles tendon ruled him out of contention for the Autumn internationals, the 2009 Six Nations and the summer tour of North America. Although he then missed the 2010 Six Nations, he was named on the standby list for the summer matches at home to South Africa and in New Zealand.{{cite news |title=Andy Powell returns to Wales squad with uncapped trio |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8683634.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=16 May 2010 |accessdate=15 August 2022 }} After Andy Powell suffered an injury and withdrew from the tour, Thomas was called up in his place.{{cite news |title=Wales suffer Andy Powell injury blow |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8714606.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=3 June 2010 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} With Martyn Williams opting not to tour and Sam Warburton suffering an injury in the South Africa match, Thomas was left as the only specialist openside in the squad,{{cite news |title=Wales boss respects Martyn Williams' choice not to tour |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8731062.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=10 June 2022 |accessdate=15 August 2022 }} and was named in the Wales starting line-up for the first time in three years for the first test against New Zealand in Dunedin on 19 June 2010.{{cite news |title=Wales call on Gavin Thomas and Andrew Bishop |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8741307.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=17 June 2010 |accessdate=15 August 2022 }}{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8746334.stm |title=New Zealand 42–9 Wales |date=19 June 2010 |work=BBC Sport |accessdate=10 July 2010}} He retained the starting openside position for the second test, but was sin-binned in the 70th minute for punching New Zealand lock Sam Whitelock in retaliation after he had been illegally held at a maul.{{cite news |title=New Zealand 29-10 Wales |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8760225.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=26 June 2010 |accessdate=11 August 2022 }} That was to be his final match for Wales, finishing with 24 caps.

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.wru.wales/player/?PlayGuid=GT198716 WRU profile]
• [https://www.dragonsrugby.wales/teams/player/dragons/103918/gavin-thomas.html Dragons profile]
• [http://www.llanellirfc.co.uk/player?id=103918&authtoken=RDMwOUZGNzYtQjdFOS00NjM3LUI5RTItNDI2MUE2QTFBMDND&teamid=MTA0MTY2 Llanelli RFC profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Gavin}}

Category:1977 births

Category:Living people

Category:Bath Rugby players

Category:Black British sportsmen

Category:Bridgend RFC players

Category:Dragons RFC players

Category:Ospreys (rugby union) players

Category:Rugby union flankers

Category:Rugby union players from Leamington Spa

Category:Rugby union players from Warwickshire

Category:Scarlets players

Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen

Category:Wales international rugby union players

Category:Welsh rugby union players