Gareth Thomas (rugby player)

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Gareth Thomas
Date of birth 1974-07-25
Place of birth Sarn nr. Bridgend
Height 188 m
Weight 91 kg
Nickname Alfie
Rugby union career
Position Fullback, Wing, Centre
Professional clubs
?-1997
1997-2001
2001-2003
2003-2004
2004-2007		 Bridgend RFC
Cardiff RFC
Bridgend RFC
Celtic Warriors
Stade Toulousain
correct as of .
National team(s) Caps (points)
1995-2007
2005		 Wales
British and Irish Lions		 92
3		 (185)
(5)
correct as of 5th Feburary 2007.

Gareth "Alfie" Thomas (born 25 July 1974, Sarn nr. Bridgend) is a Welsh rugby union player who currently plays at fullback, wing or centre for Stade Toulousain and mainly as a fullback for Wales. As of 17 March 2007, he is level with Gareth Llewellyn as the most-capped Wales player.

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[1] and in 2007 was banned for four weeks for misconduct charges.[2] 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.[3] Thomas has been championed as one of the few players who successfully negotiated Rugby's transition from an amateur to a professional sport, and is therefore well respected by the Welsh rugby public.[citation needed] Recent events have however led to debate about whether his presence in Welsh rugby is beneficial.[citation needed]

He is known as 'Alfie' due to a supposed resemblance to a character in a sitcom called ALF (alien life form).[4] 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).[5]

Contents

[edit] Club career

Thomas started his career at Bridgend 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 RFC 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 RFC and Cardiff RFC away.[6] 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 Ntamack. 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.

[edit] International career

Gareth Thomas made his debut for Wales on May 27, 1995 against Japan.[4] 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 also holds the record for the most international tries for his country, currently with 37 in 89 tests. He surpassed the 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 interception try ever seen at the Arms Park, a 90 metre dash against Australia in 1996.

Thomas was selected for The British 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.[7]

[edit] 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. The stress from the surrounding controversy has allegedly led to health problems for the Welsh captain; he suffered a ruptured artery in his neck, which it was feared could lead to retirement but he somewhat miraculously resumed playing at the start of the 2006/07 French rugby season.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ BBC Sport: Rugby captain guilty of assault
  2. ^ BBC Sport: Wales rule out Thomas ban appeal
  3. ^ BBC Scrum V: Alfie On Scrum V
  4. ^ a b Yahoo! Sport: Gareth Thomas Profile
  5. ^ BBC Sport: Thomas turns gamekeeper
  6. ^ BBC Sport: Blues seek early Thomas release
  7. ^ Thomas to deputise for injured captain. Welsh Rugby Union (14 March 2007).
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