Ben Thomas (rugby union)

Last updated

Ben Thomas
Birth nameBen Thomas
Date of birth (1998-11-25) 25 November 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Cardiff, Wales
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight91 kg (14 st 5 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Inside Centre
Fly Half
Current team Cardiff Rugby
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2016–2019 Cardiff RFC 38 (127)
2019– Cardiff Rugby 89 (117)
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2018 Wales U20 [1] 7 (0)
2021– Wales 4 (19)

Ben Thomas (born 25 November 1998) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Cardiff Rugby and the Wales national team as a centre.

Contents

Early life

Thomas attended Cardiff and Vale College and was the first captain of the academy team. [2] He was part of the Cardiff Academy for the 2017–18 season, and retained for the 2018–19 season. [3] [4] Despite developing as a 10, Thomas switched to inside centre ahead of the 2018–19 season. Following a successful transition, Thomas was named Best Newcomer in the Premiership after helping Cardiff RFC claim the National Cup, the club's first silverware since 2009. [5]

Professional career

Cardiff

Thomas made his Cardiff debut on 16 November 2019 against Calvisano. [6] Thomas made his first start on 7 December 2019, scoring a try and subsequently named Man of the Match. [7]

Thomas signed an extension with Cardiff on 25 July 2023, and agreed to a further extension on 18 December 2024. [8] [9]

During the 2023–24 season, Thomas captained Cardiff for two fixtures in South Africa. [10]

International career

Wales U18 and U20

In 2017, Thomas represented Wales U18 in the Under 19 International Series, featuring in wins over South Africa Schools and England U18. [11] [12]

Thomas was selected for Wales U20 for the 2018 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, coming off the bench in the opening match against Scotland, before starting against England at inside centre. [13] [14]

Thomas was later selected by Wales U20 for the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship. [15]

Wales

On 7 June 2021 Thomas received his first call up for the senior Wales team for the 2021 Summer Internationals, replacing Callum Sheedy at fly-half in the second half of the match against Canada to win his first cap. Thomas scored his first international try on 17 November 2024, against Australia. [16]

Personal life

Thomas is the son of British light-middleweight boxing champion Pat Thomas. [17]

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References

  1. ↑ "Ben THOMAS - Player statistics - international stats - It's rugby".
  2. ↑ "Cardiff and Vale College's first Rugby Academy Captain, Wales International Ben Thomas, joins the current team for pre-season training". cavc.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  3. ↑ "Academy intake confirmed for 2017-18". Cardiff Rugby. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "Cardiff Blues confirm 2018/19 academy squad". Cardiff Rugby. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  5. ↑ "Ben Thomas wins Principality Premiership Best Newcomer award – CARDIFF RFC". 22 May 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  6. ↑ Thomas, Simon (12 November 2019). "The award-winning Welsh rugby youngster making his big debut this weekend". Wales Online. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "European Challenge Cup: Cardiff Blues 54-22 Pau". BBC Sport. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "Ben Thomas: Wales back signs new Cardiff contract". BBC Sport. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  9. ↑ "Duo give Cardiff a boost ahead of Boxing Day derby at Rodney Parade". South Wales Argus. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "Thomas to lead Cardiff in Johannesburg - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  11. ↑ "Historic win for Wales U18 in South Afrfica - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "Wales U18 win again in South Africa | Ospreys". www.ospreysrugby.com. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  13. ↑ "2018 U20s Six Nations: Wales beat Scotland 36-3 in opener". BBC Sport. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  14. ↑ "Thomas to start for Wales Under-20 in England encounter". Cardiff Rugby. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  15. ↑ "Wales reveal World Rugby U20 Championship squad - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  16. ↑ "Wales crumble to record 11th Test loss in row - recap and reaction". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  17. ↑ "In Their Own Words: Pat Thomas, The First Man To Win British Titles At Separate Weights, Reflects On Being A Boxing "afterthought"". boxingnewsonline.net. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
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