Jonathan Thomas
{{short description|Wales international rugby union footballer}}
{{For|the actor|Jonathan Taylor Thomas}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Jonathan Thomas
| image = Jonathan Thomas.jpg
| image_size =
| birth_name = Jonathan James Thomas
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|12|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = Pembroke, Wales
| height = {{convert|196|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|112|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}
| occupation =Professional Rugby Player
Forwards and Defence Coach
| school = Pembroke Comprehensive School
| university =Swansea
| spouse =
| children =
| relatives =
| ru_currentposition =
| ru_currentteam =
| ru_position = Flanker, Number 8, Lock
| ru_amateuryears =
| ru_amateurclubs =
| ru_clubyears = 2001–2003
2003–2013
2013–2015
| ru_proclubs = {{nobreak|Swansea
Ospreys
Worcester Warriors}}
| ru_clubcaps = 25
188
44
| ru_clubpoints = (0)
(70)
(0)
| ru_clubupdate =
| ru_nationalyears = 2003–2011
| ru_nationalteam = {{nrut|Wales}}
| ru_nationalcaps = 67
| ru_nationalpoints = (35)
| ru_ntupdate =
| ru_sevensnationalyears =
| ru_sevensnationalteam =
| ru_sevensnationalcomp =
| website =
}}
Jonathan Thomas (born 27 December 1982, in Pembroke) is a Welsh rugby union coach and former player, he played mainly at flanker having also played at number eight and lock. He was previously head coach of Worcester Warriors. On 17 January 2023 he was appointed as an Assistant Coach of the Welsh rugby union team.
Early life
Thomas was an international cricketer playing for Wales u.15's
Career
=Club=
Thomas started out playing for Pembroke RFC juniors, before playing for Swansea RFC when they were still a professional club, captaining them at 19. With the regionalisation of Welsh rugby in 2003, Swansea combined with Neath to form the Ospreys, where over a 10-year period Thomas won four league titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup. He is the youngest player to captain the Ospreys. At the time of leaving, he was the joint highest appearance holder, together with Andrew Bishop on 188 appearances.
On 28 May 2013, Thomas joined English team Worcester Warriors from the 2013–14 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22688175|work=BBC Sport|title=Worcester Warriors sign Ospreys and Wales flanker Jonathan Thomas|date=28 May 2013|access-date=25 January 2015}} He was soon made club captain for Worcester Warriors for the 2013–14 season.
=International career=
Thomas played for Wales at Under 16, Youth, Under 19, Under 21 and Sevens level. He made his international debut against Australia in 2003. Many noticed him during the 2003 Rugby World Cup in the match against New Zealand for his man of the match display. He also played in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Thomas was part of two Six Nations Grand Slams, in 2005, and in 2008 where he started every game. Thomas was included in every Wales Six Nations squad between 2004 and 2011. In his appearances for Wales, he scored seven tries.
=Coaching=
Thomas joined Bristol Rugby ahead of the 2016/17 campaign as Defence and Forwards Coach.
He moved to former club Worcester Warriors ahead of the 2020–21 season.{{Cite news|date=2019-11-20|title=Jonathan Thomas: Former Wales international to leave Bristol to rejoin Warriors|language=en-gb|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50487134|access-date=2020-07-06}} He left with immediate effect on 25 January 2022.{{Cite web|title=Worcester Warriors {{!}} Steve Diamond to become Director of Rugby|url=https://warriors.co.uk/2022/01/25/steve-diamond-to-become-director-of-rugby/|access-date=2022-01-25|website=warriors.co.uk|language=en-GB}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/matchcentre/squads_wales_player_archive.php?player=4737&includeref=dynamic Wales Profile]
{{Wales Squad 2003 World Cup}}
{{Wales Squad 2007 World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Jonathan}}
Category:Ospreys (rugby union) players
Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen
Category:Rugby union number eights
Category:Rugby union players from Pembroke
Category:Wales international rugby union players
Category:Welsh rugby union coaches
Category:Welsh rugby union players
Category:Worcester Warriors players
Category:2003 Rugby World Cup players
Category:2007 Rugby World Cup players
{{Wales-rugbyunion-bio-stub}}