Jon Thiel
{{Short description|Canadian rugby player (born 1975)}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Jon Thiel
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|05|31|df=y}}
| birth_place = White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
| height = {{convert|185|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|115|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| ru_position = Prop
| amatteam1 = Bayside Sharks
| years1 = 1999–2000 |clubs1 = Narbonne |apps1 = 4 |points1 = 0
| years2 = 2000–2001 |clubs2 = Sale Sharks |apps2 = 20 |points2 = 0
| years3 = 2001–2003 |clubs3 = Bridgend |apps3 = 14 |points3 = 0
| years4 = 2003–2005 |clubs4 = Llanelli Scarlets |apps4 = 13 |points4 = 15
| years5 = 2005 |clubs5 = Exeter Chiefs |apps5 = 1 |points5 = 0
| years6 = 2009–2010 |clubs6 = RC Chalon |apps6 = |points6 =
| repyears1 = 1998–2008 |repteam1 = Canada |repcaps1 = 44 |reppoints1 = 20
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 = 2006 |ru_sevensnationalteam1 = Canada |ru_sevensnationalcomp1 = 1
}}
Jon Thiel (born May 31, 1975) is a Canadian former rugby union footballer who played as a prop.
Rugby career
Born in White Rock, British Columbia, he began his rugby career with local club Bayside Sharks. He turned professional in 1999 when he joined French side Narbonne, making 25 appearances in the 1999–2000 season,{{cite news |title=Thiel signs for Sale |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/31736.html |website=ESPNscrum |date=12 July 2000 |accessdate=24 October 2023 }} before moving to England with Sale Sharks after his contract expired.{{cite news |title=Canadian prop Thiel on his way to Sale |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/830281.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=12 July 2000 |accessdate=23 October 2023 }}
After a year with Sale, he moved to Wales, where he signed for Bridgend.{{cite news |title=Neath duo make Gnoll exit |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/1311630.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=8 June 2001 |accessdate=23 October 2023 }} When the Celtic Warriors were formed in 2003 as a merger of Bridgend and Pontypridd, Thiel was not considered part of the regional squad and briefly returned to Canada{{cite news |title=Thiel snubs the Welsh 'quick fix' |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/thiel-snubs-welsh-quick-fix-2479666 |website=Wales Online |publisher=Media Wales |date=31 July 2003 |accessdate=23 October 2023 }} before joining the Llanelli Scarlets in November 2003, following the surprise resignation of Martyn Madden, which had left John Davies as the only senior tighthead prop in the squad.{{cite news |title=Scarlets sign Thiel |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3264319.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=12 November 2003 |accessdate=21 October 2023 }}
Before making his regional debut, he played four times for Llanelli RFC in the Welsh Premiership;{{cite web |title=John Thiel - Prop |url=http://www.llanellirfc.co.uk/player?id=116325&authtoken=RDMwOUZGNzYtQjdFOS00NjM3LUI5RTItNDI2MUE2QTFBMDND&teamid=MTA0MTY2 |publisher=Llanelli RFC |accessdate=24 October 2023 }} he also made one appearance for Carmarthen Quins.{{cite web |title=John Thiel - Prop |url=https://www.carmarthenquinsrfc.co.uk/player?id=116325&authtoken=OTk4MjE1NzYtRkJCQS00RkYzLThFOTctOUVEQjg3MkM5OEQx&teamid=MTAzOTg1 |publisher=Carmarthen Quins RFC |accessdate=24 October 2023 }}
During and after injury
Having made just 13 appearances in a little over a year with the Scarlets, a serious calf injury brought a premature end to his time at Stradey Park, and he was released in January 2005.{{cite news |title=Thiel agrees to end Scarlets stay |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/4185485.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=18 January 2005 |accessdate=23 October 2023 }}
He then returned to Canada, where he took up a player–coach position with Bayside Sharks.{{cite news |title=Thiel takes up coaching role |url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/15381410/thiel-takes-coaching-role |website=ESPNscrum |date=8 September 2005 |accessdate=24 October 2023 }}
At international level, Thiel made his debut for Canada in 1998, starting in a 38–12 win over Hong Kong. He went to three Rugby World Cups with Canada – in 1999, 2003 and 2007 – and made his final appearance in a 34–13 loss to Wales at the Millennium Stadium on 14 November 2008.
Personal life
Thiel is married to former Canada women's international rugby player Jen Ross, who earned four caps between 1994 and 1996. They have three sons: twins Jake and Josh, and younger brother James.{{cite news |first=Karen |last=Gasbarino-Knutt |title=The Thiel-Ross Family: A Rugby Canada Legacy Like No Other |url=https://aedelhard.com/blogs/blog/the-thiel-ross-family-a-rugby-canada-legacy-like-no-other |website=Ædelhard |date=26 September 2018 |accessdate=October 24, 2023 }} All three sons have also played rugby for Canada: Jake is a sevens specialist, making his senior debut in the 2018 Sydney Sevens,{{cite web |title=Jake Thiel |url=https://rugby.ca/en/athletes/jake-thiel |website=rugby.ca |publisher=Rugby Canada |accessdate=October 24, 2023 }} while Josh earned one cap for the senior 15s team, starting at fullback in a 33–17 win over Chile in 2018,{{cite web |title=Chile v Canada at La Serena |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/match/298616.html |website=ESPNscrum |accessdate=October 24, 2023 }} and James played as a wing/fullback for Canada's senior development side, the Pacific Pride.{{cite web |title=James Thiel |url=https://rugby.ca/en/athletes/james-thiel |website=rugby.ca |publisher=Rugby Canada |accessdate=October 24, 2013 }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Canada 1999 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{Canada 2003 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{Canada 2007 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thiel, Jon}}
Category:Canadian rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from British Columbia
Category:Sportspeople from White Rock, British Columbia
Category:Canada international rugby union players
Category:1999 Rugby World Cup players
Category:2003 Rugby World Cup players
Category:2007 Rugby World Cup players
Category:Canadian expatriate rugby union players in France