Malcolm Thomas (rugby union) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Malcolm Thomas

Thomas in New Zealand in 1950
Birth name	Malcolm Campbell Thomas
Date of birth	(1929-04-25)25 April 1929
Place of birth	Machen, Wales
Date of death	9 April 2012(2012-04-09) (aged 82)
Place of death	Burnham, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	13 st 10 lb (87 kg; 192 lb)
School	Bassaleg Grammar School
University	Caerleon Training College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) ? 1946–1959 ? 1950–≥1958 Devonport Services R.F.C. Newport RFC London Welsh RFC Barbarian F.C. () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1949–1959 1950–1959 Wales British Lions 27 4 (22) (0)

Malcolm Campbell Thomas (born April 25, 1929 – died April 9, 2012) was a famous Welsh rugby player. He also played for the British Lions team. Malcolm was a "centre" player, which is a key position in rugby. He played for the Newport club. He represented Wales 27 times. He also went on two tours with the British Lions to Australia and New Zealand. After playing rugby, Malcolm became a successful businessman. He passed away in Burnham, England.

Malcolm's Early Life and Club Rugby

Malcolm Thomas was born in Machen, Wales, in 1929. He went to Bassaleg Grammar School. While at school, he was chosen to play for the Welsh Secondary Schools rugby and cricket teams. After school, he studied at Caerleon Training College.

Once he finished college, Malcolm joined the Royal Navy as an instructor-lieutenant. He played for and was captain of the Devonport Services rugby team. He also played for the Navy's main team.

Playing for Newport RFC

In 1946, Malcolm joined the Newport rugby club. He played in big matches against famous teams. These included South Africa in 1952, New Zealand in 1954, and Australia in 1957.

Malcolm was a very flexible player. He could play as a centre or on the wing. This made him a valuable "utility back" for his team. He was also known for being good at kicking goals. He was strong in tackles and could push opponents away with a powerful "hand-off."

Other Teams and Cricket

Besides Newport, Malcolm also played for county teams like Cornwall and Monmouthshire. He was invited to play for special teams too, such as the Barbarians and Crawshays. In 1958, he toured Africa with the Barbarians. He scored a try and two conversions in a game against East Africa.

Malcolm was also a talented cricketer. He played for the Cornwall County Cricket Club in 1951. He played in four matches for them.

Malcolm's International Rugby Career

Malcolm Thomas first played for Wales in 1949. His first game was against France in Paris, which Wales lost. However, the team selectors believed in him. He played in the next four Five Nations Tournament games. This helped Wales win the Grand Slam in 1950, which was their first since 1911! Malcolm was also part of the Welsh Grand Slam team in 1952.

In 1953, he was not chosen for the team. Some thought his playing style had become a bit "stale." He was also blamed for a bad pass in a game against England. In 1954, he broke his leg during a practice game. But he worked hard and was back playing for Newport the next season. His good form led to his return to the Welsh team. On January 19, 1957, he was made captain of Wales for a game against England. He also captained the team later that season against Scotland.

International Matches Played

Here are the international matches Malcolm Thomas played in:

For Wales:

• England: 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1959
• France: 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1958, 1959
• Ireland: 1950, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1958, 1959
• Scotland: 1950, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1958
• South Africa: 1951

For the British Lions:

• Australia: 1950
• New Zealand: 1950, 1950, 1959