Harold Thomas (rugby)

Harold Watkin Thomas
Personal information
Full name Harold Watkin Thomas
Born 19 February 1914
Neath, Wales
Died 10 December 1989 (aged 75)
Neath, Wales
Playing information
Rugby union
Position Lock

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1936–≥37 Neath RFC
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1936–37 Wales 6 0 0 0 0
1945–46 Wales XV
Rugby league
Position Second-row

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1937–45 Salford 119 6 0 0 18
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1938–39 Wales 2
Source: [1][2][3]

Harold Watkin Thomas (19 February 1914 – 10 December 1989) was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s and 1940s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales, and Wales XV, and at club level for his native town of Neath, as a Lock, i.e. number 4 or 5,[1][2] and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Salford, as a second-row, i.e. number 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums.[3]

Background

Harold Thomas was born in Neath, Wales, and he died aged 75 in Neath, Wales.

Playing career

International honours

Harold Thomas won caps for Wales (RU) while at Neath RFC in 1936 against England, Scotland, and Ireland, and in 1937 against England, Scotland, and Ireland,[1][2] represented Wales XV (RU) while at Salford (RL) in the 'Victory International' non-Test match(es) between December 1945 and April 1946, and won caps for Wales (RL) while at Salford 1938…1939 2-caps.[3]

Six rugby league footballers represented Wales XV (RU) while at rugby league clubs, they were; Tyssul Griffiths, Elwyn Gwyther, Gomer Hughes, Hugh Lloyd-Davies, Harold Thomas, and Leslie Thomas.

Gomer Hughes, and Harold Thomas had previously won Wales (RU) caps, but the other footballers had not, and having already changed to the rugby league code they were unable to do so, Tyssul Griffiths, Elwyn Gwyther, Leslie Thomas, did go on to win Wales (RL) caps, but Hugh Lloyd-Davies, and W. E. "Billy" Williams won neither Wales (RU) nor Wales (RL) caps.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Harold Thomas played left-second-row, i.e. number 11, in Salford's 7–4 victory over Barrow in the 1938 Challenge Cup Final during the 1937–38 season at Wembley Stadium, London, in front of a crowd of 51,243.

County Cup Final appearances

Harold Thomas played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Salford's 7–10 defeat by Wigan in the 1938 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1938–39 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 22 October 1938.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Profile at en.espn.co.uk (RU)". en.espn.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "Statistics at wru.co.uk (RU)". wru.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "22nd October 1938: Salford 7 Wigan 10 (Lancashire Cup Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
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