Henry Thomas (rugby union)

Henry Thomas (born 30 October 1991) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets. At international level Thomas has played for both England and Wales; first making his debut for England in 2013, before representing Wales in 2023.

Henry Thomas
Thomas, Montpellier, 2022
Birth nameHenry Morgan Thomas
Date of birth (1991-10-30) 30 October 1991 (age 32)
Place of birthKingston upon Thames, England
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight120 kg (18 st 13 lb; 265 lb)[1]
SchoolMillfield
UniversityUniversity of Manchester
Rugby union career
Position(s) Tighthead Prop
Current team Scarlets
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2014
2014–2021
2021–2024
2024
2024–
Sale Sharks
Bath
Montpellier
Castres
Scarlets
82
118
43
14
0
(40)
(20)
(5)
(0)
(0)
Correct as of 16 July 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)


2011
2013–2014
2023–
England U16
England U18
England U20
England
Wales


7
7
4


(10)
(0)
(0)
Correct as of 7 October 2023

Club career

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In the 2010–11 season, Thomas started as captain of Sale Sharks. Continuing his good performances for the Jets, in October he progressed to the senior squad, continuing to make 14 Premiership appearances in the season. In March 2013 he came off the bench for the Sale side that lost to Harlequins in the final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup.[2]

In January 2014 it was announced that Thomas had signed for Bath.[3][4] In his first season at the club he played in the 2015 Premiership final which saw Bath lose against Saracens to finish runners up.[5]

On 27 July 2021, Thomas left Bath after seven years with the club to join French side Montpellier.[6] They won the 2021–22 Top 14 season league title in his first season at the club.[7] In January 2024 it was confirmed that Thomas would spend the remainder of the 2023–24 Top 14 season with Castres Olympique.[8]

After three years in France it was announced that Thomas would join Scarlets for the 2024–25 United Rugby Championship.[9]

International career

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England

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Thomas represented England U20 during the 2011 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and started in their decisive last fixture which saw them defeat Ireland to complete a grand slam.[10] Later that year he scored a try against Ireland in their opening game of the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship.[11] He also scored a try in the final which they lost against New Zealand to finish runners up.[12][13]

In July 2012 Thomas was included in the England A squad along with fellow Sale teammates Rob Miller and James Gaskell.[14] In January 2013 Thomas received his first call-up to the senior England squad as an injury replacement for Alex Corbisiero during the 2013 Six Nations but did not feature in the tournament.[15]

Thomas was selected for the 2013 Tour of Argentina and on 8 June 2013 made his Test debut as a second-half replacement for Joe Marler.[16][17] He also came off the bench in the following match as England defeated Argentina to win the series.[18]

Thomas played in victories over Scotland, Ireland and Wales during the 2014 Six Nations Championship as England completed their first Triple Crown for over a decade.[19] He also featured in the last round away to Italy as England finished runners up.[20]

Thomas was included in the squad for their 2014 tour of New Zealand and on 7 June 2014 played in the opening test of the series at Eden Park.[21] This was ultimately his seventh and last appearance for England.[22]

Wales

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On 1 May 2023, Warren Gatland selected Thomas in Wales' 54 player training squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[23] He qualifies for Wales through his Swansea-born father and is eligible under World Rugby regulations because he played for England more than three years ago.[24]

Thomas made his Wales debut on 5 August 2023, coming off the bench in the first test of their 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches, in a win against former team England.[22] His two appearances during the world cup both came in pool stage victories against Australia and Georgia.[25][26]

References

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  1. ^ "Henry Thomas profile". All Rugby. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  2. ^ Mitchell, Brendon (17 March 2013). "LV= Cup final: Sale Sharks 14-32 Harlequins". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Henry Thomas and Nick Auterac to join Bath Rugby at end of the season". Bath Chronicle. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Bath sign Sale's Henry Thomas and Saracens' Nick Auterac". BBC Sport. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  5. ^ Hassan, Nabil (30 May 2015). "Premiership final: Bath 16-28 Saracens". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Rugby : trois choses à savoir sur Henry Thomas, nouveau pilier du MHR pour deux saisons" (in French). Midilibre.fr. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  7. ^ Morgan, Charlie (4 September 2023). "Henry Thomas: My dad always wanted me to play for Wales". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Henry Thomas: Wales prop joins Castres from Montpellier". BBC Sport. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Scarlets sign Wales prop Thomas from Castres". BBC Sport. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Ford leads England Under-20s to clean sweep". Six Nations Rugby. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  11. ^ "England edge out Ireland in opener". ESPN. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  12. ^ Pengelly, Martin (26 June 2011). "New Zealand beat England in IRB Junior World Championship final". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  13. ^ Mole, Giles (18 January 2019). "Dan Robson joins the club: How 2011 world junior final between England and New Zealand spawned 27 Test stars". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  14. ^ "James Haskell omitted from England's 32-man elite squad". BBC Sport. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  15. ^ Rees, Paul (27 January 2013). "Six Nations 2013: England's Alex Corbisiero set to miss campaign". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Henry Thomas: Sale Sharks prop targets England front-row spot". BBC Sport. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  17. ^ Henson, Mike (8 June 2013). "Argentina 3-32 England: Tourists brush Pumas aside in first Test". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  18. ^ Standley, James (15 June 2013). "Argentina 26-51 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  19. ^ Fordyce, Tom (9 March 2014). "Six Nations 2014: England 29-18 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  20. ^ Fordyce, Tom (15 March 2014). "Six Nations 2014: England hammer Italy and wait on Ireland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  21. ^ Standley, James (7 June 2014). "New Zealand beat England 20-15 through late Conrad Smith try". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  22. ^ a b Griffiths, Gareth (4 August 2023). "Wales v England: New caps have chance to impress for World Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Wales training squad for Rugby World Cup 2023 - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  24. ^ Griffiths, Gareth (2 May 2023). "Are Welsh rugby's eligibility rules fit for purpose?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  25. ^ Griffiths, Gareth (24 September 2023). "Wales 40-6 Australia: Warren Gatland's side hammer Wallabies to seal World Cup quarter-final spot". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  26. ^ Coleman-Phillips, Ceri (7 October 2023). "Rugby World Cup: Wales 43-19 Georgia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
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