Jonathan Thomas
 | |||
| Full name | Jonathan James Thomas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 27 December 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | Pembroke, Wales | ||
| Height | 196 cm (6 ft 5 in) | ||
| Weight | 112 kg (17 st 9 lb; 247 lb) | ||
| School | Pembroke Comprehensive School | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Flanker, Number 8, Lock | ||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2001–2003 2003–2013 2013–2015 |
Swansea Ospreys Worcester Warriors |
25 188 44 |
(0) (70) (0) |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2003–2011 | Wales | 67 | (35) |
Jonathan Thomas (born 27 December 1982 in Pembroke) is a retired Welsh international rugby union player,[1] who played mainly at flanker having also played at number eight and lock.
Career
Club
Thomas started out playing for Pembroke RFC juniors, before playing for Swansea RFC, and in the professional era from 2003 with Ospreys, where in a 10-year period he won four league titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup.[2]
On 28 May 2013, Thomas joined English team Worcester Warriors from the 2013-14 season.[3] He was soon made club captain for Worcester Warriors for the 2013-14 season. On 23 January 2015, Thomas signed a new two-year contract extension with Worcester until the end of the 2016-17 season.[4]
International career
Thomas played for Wales at Under 16, Under 19 and Under 21 level. He made his international debut against Australia in 2003. He became noticed by many during the 2003 Rugby World Cup in the match against New Zealand. Thomas was part of two Six Nations Grand Slams, in 2005 where he only started one of the matches, and in 2008 where he started every game. On 18 January 2010 he was named in the 35 man Wales national Squad for the 2010 Six Nations tournament.[5] He was named in the preliminary squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup[6] but was ultimately left out of the final squad.[7] In his appearances for Wales he has scored seven tries.
Retirement
In 2014, Thomas was diagnosed with epilepsy, which on further investigation was thought to be as a result of multiple head traumas, which had led to a degree of brain injury. On 15 September 2015, on medical advice Thomas announced his retirement from all forms of rugby.[1][2]
References
- 1 2 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34240574
- 1 2 http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/sep/15/jonathan-thomas-retire-epilepsy-worcester-rugby-union
- ↑ "Worcester Warriors sign Ospreys and Wales flanker Jonathan Thomas". BBC Sport. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ↑ "Jonathan Thomas: Worcester flanker pens new two-year contract". BBC Sport. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ↑ Wales 2010 Six Nations Squad
- ↑ "Wales: Gatland ponders World Cup selection dilemmas". BBC. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ↑ "Rugby World Cup 2011: Sam Warburton leads Wales in New Zealand". BBC. 22 August 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2015.