Gavin Thomas
Encyclopedia
Gavin Michael Thomas is a Wales
international rugby union
flanker
, who has been capped more than 20 times for Wales. He plays his club rugby for Newport Gwent Dragons
, who he joined in 2009.
He previously played club rugby for Bridgend RFC, Bath Rugby
and the Ospreys before joining the Llanelli Scarlets
.
Before making the step up to the full national team, Thomas played for Wales' under-18 and under-21 teams. He made his senior international debut for Wales on 10 June 2001 against Japan
. He was capped another five times that year. He then played in the 2002 Six Nations
, as well as playing Tests against South Africa
and Romania
. He was capped five times in 2003, including the Six Nations
. He played in two Tests against Romania in June 2006. In May 2010 he was added to the Wales national rugby union team
standby list for the summer matches and subsequently called into the full squad due to injury to Andy Powell
. Thomas returned to the Wales starting lineup against in Dunedin
on 19 June 2010 after a four year absence.
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
, who has been capped more than 20 times for Wales. He plays his club rugby for Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...
, who he joined in 2009.
He previously played club rugby for Bridgend RFC, Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
and the Ospreys before joining the Llanelli Scarlets
Llanelli Scarlets
The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, as well as competing in the LV= Cup and the Heineken Cup...
.
Before making the step up to the full national team, Thomas played for Wales' under-18 and under-21 teams. He made his senior international debut for Wales on 10 June 2001 against Japan
Japan national rugby union team
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
. He was capped another five times that year. He then played in the 2002 Six Nations
2002 Six Nations Championship
The 2002 Six Nations Championship was the third series of the Six Nations Championship. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the hundred-and-eighth series of the northern hemisphere rugby union championship...
, as well as playing Tests against South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
and Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
. He was capped five times in 2003, including the Six Nations
2003 Six Nations Championship
The 2003 Six Nations Championship was the fourth series of the Six Nations Championship. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the hundred-and-ninth series of the northern hemisphere rugby union championship...
. He played in two Tests against Romania in June 2006. In May 2010 he was added to the Wales national rugby union team
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
standby list for the summer matches and subsequently called into the full squad due to injury to Andy Powell
Andy Powell (rugby player)
Andy Powell is a Welsh international rugby union player now playing his club rugby for Sale Sharks. He is a back row forward who has played for both the Wales sevens team and the Wales national rugby union team.-Rugby union career:...
. Thomas returned to the Wales starting lineup against in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
on 19 June 2010 after a four year absence.