Career
Thomas began his rugby playing career for local clubs across the Swansea area, before joining Morriston. Morriston was well known for providing players to first class club Swansea, and in 1892 Thomas too joined the team Despite joining Swansea in 1892, it took until 1900 for him to be selected for the Wales national squad, joining the team in the opening match of the 1900 Home Nations Championship, played at Gloucester against England.
The Welsh team saw an influx of new players, mainly brought into the back positions, but Thomas was one of two new caps in the forwards, along with Pontymister"s William Williams.
The final game of the Championship was played at Belfast against Ireland, and with the Hellings returning the pack was back to the same line up as the first game of the tournament. Thomas played just one more international game, the opening match of the 1901 Home Nations Championship, facing England for the second time in his career.
Played at the Cardiff Arms Park, Thomas again found himself on the winning side, but the next game he was replaced by William Alexander. Thomas finished his international career with four wins out of four.
At the end of the 1900/01 season Thomas retired from rugby and Swansea Reconstruction Finance Corporation responded by awarding him badges, "up to the value of £10", but the presentation was not sanctioned by the Welsh Rugby Union.
The argument of professionalism surrounded rugby union, and after the fallout from The Gould Affair, the WRU were worried of any international sanctions. International matches played
Wales
England 1900, 1901
Ireland 1900
Scotland 1900
Thomas was a steel tube millman at the Mannesmann Tube Works in Landore. In 1905 he was involved in an industrial accident at his place of work when a pair of tongs went through his right hand, injuring him severely.
The incident scarred him mentally as well as physically.
