Player

Alun Thomas - Centre

Cardiff
Back
Alun Thomas
Date Of Birth03/02/1926
Place Of BirthCwmavon
EducationAberystwyth University, Port Talbot County School
ClubsSwansea, Cardiff, Llanelli Wanderers, Llangennech
RegionsScarlets
HonoursWales, British and Irish Lions, Wales Schools
InvitationalCrawshays, Barbarians
ManagedBritish and Irish Lions, Wales
Alun Gruffydd Thomas was born in Cwmavon in 1926 and gained a Welsh Secondary School cap against England in 1945 whilst attending Port Talbot County School. When he left school he went to Aberystwyth University and played for Llanelli Wanderers, Llangennech and Swansea. In 1950 he joined Cardiff making the traditional debut for Cardiff Athletic against Old Edwardians in November 1950 and going on to make 82 appearances for the first team, making his debut against Cheltenham - his first XV cap was awarded at the end of his first season. In the game against the touring South African team in 1951 he played on the wing but when he played in the legendary Cardiff side that beat the 1953 All Blacks he was playing in the centre. His international debut came against England at Twickenham in 1952, the first of 13 appearances for Wales. Alun moved to Llanelli in 1955 and was selected for the Lions tour of South Africa. Unfortunately, injury restricted him to only 5 games on tour. and gained 14 caps for Wales
From 1963 - 1968 he was a Welsh Selector and was Assistant Manager on the first ever Welsh tour to South Africa in 1964, he was President of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1985. Two well-known relatives of Alun Thomas were the great Swansea player Len Blyth and Len’s son, the full back Roger Blyth.
SEASON P W D L TRY CON PEN DG PTS
1950-1951 15 10 4 1 5 0 0 2 21
1951-1952 23 17 1 5 6 0 0 0 18
1952-1953 20 15 1 4 2 0 0 0 6
1953-1954 22 15 2 5 5 0 0 3 24
1954-1955 2 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 6
TOTAL 82 59 8 15 18 3 0 5 75
TEAM P W D L PF PA PTS
Llandovery 20 19 0 1 684 307 90
Newport 21 18 0 3 701 390 90
Ebbw Vale 20 14 0 6 615 384 71
Cardiff 21 12 1 8 579 492 63
Pontypridd 21 10 1 10 470 501 53
Pontypool 19 11 0 8 480 455 51
Merthyr 18 10 0 8 458 470 49
Aberavon 20 8 0 12 462 556 46
Bridgend Ravens 20 8 0 12 423 539 41
Swansea 19 5 0 14 377 540 30
RGC 1404 18 5 0 13 354 489 28
Carmarthen Quins 19 4 0 15 416 541 28
Neath 20 3 0 17 330 685 19