Melbourne Thomas
Birth name | Beriah Melbourne Gwynne Thomas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 11 June 1896 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Nantymoel, Bridgend County Borough, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 23 June 1966 | (aged 70)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of death | Pontypridd, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Bridgend County School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | University College, Cardiff | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Beriah Melbourne Gwynne Thomas (11 June 1896 – 23 June 1966)[1] was a Welsh international rugby union player. He played club rugby several teams including Nantymoel, Ogmore Vale, Bridgend, St. Batholomew's Hospital, London Welsh and Cardiff. At international level he represented Wales on six occasions.
Rugby career
[edit]"Melbourne" Thomas was a Doctor of Medicine, having studied first at University College, Cardiff and then at St Bartholomew's Hospital, he also played rugby for both institutions. During the First World War he enlisted in the Royal Navy, serving as a surgeon sub-lieutenant. After the war came to a close, in an effort to rebuild the sport of rugby, a match was organised between a Wales team and the New Zealand Army. The game was arranged for 21 April 1919, to be played at St. Helen's in Swansea. Thomas was chosen to represent Wales, earning his first international cap.
International games played
[edit]Wales
England 1924
Ireland 1921
France 1921, 1923
New Zealand Army 1919
Scotland 1921
Bibliography
[edit]- Billot, John (1972). All Blacks. Ferndale: Ron Jones Publications.
- Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.
References
[edit]- ^ Melbourne Thomas player profiles Scrum.com
- 1896 births
- 1966 deaths
- Alumni of Cardiff University
- Alumni of the Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital
- Barbarian F.C. players
- Bridgend RFC players
- Cardiff RFC players
- People educated at Ysgol Brynteg
- Royal Navy personnel of World War I
- Rugby union players from Bridgend County Borough
- Rugby union wings
- Wales international rugby union players
- Welsh rugby union players