Harold Thomas (rugby union, born 1883)

This article is about the Welsh rugby union player for Swansea, Morriston, Llanelli & Wales. For the Welsh rugby union & league player for Salford & Wales, see Harold Thomas (rugby, born 1914).

Harold Howell Meredith "Drummer" Thomas (17 August 1883 – 10 February 1947) was a Welsh international forward who played club rugby for Swansea and Llanelli.^[1] He won just a single cap for Wales.

Harold Thomas

Birth name	Harold Howell Meredith Thomas
Date of birth	(1883-08-17)17 August 1883
Place of birth	Swansea, Wales
Date of death	10 February 1947(1947-02-10) (aged 63)
Place of death	Bournemouth, Wales
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1910 Swansea RFC () 1910 Morriston RFC () 1910–1914 Llanelli FC () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1914 Wales 1 (2)

Personal history

Thomas was born in Swansea in 1883.^[1] He served in the Welch Regiment and after the first World War he moved to Haverfordwest.^[2] He died in 1947 in Bournemouth, England.^[1]

Rugby career

Thomas came to note as a rugby player when he joined Swansea.^[3] He spent just one season for Swansea before moving to local rivals Morriston RFC.^[2] He played just a few matches for Morriston, before being picked up by Llanelli RFC. It was while at Llanelli that Thomas was selected for Wales, playing France at Rodney Parade in Newport. Although Wales won the game, it was seen as far too close a match and eight members of the Welsh team played their last Five Nations Championship game. Thomas was one of the eight dropped and never represented Wales again.^[1]

International matches played

Wales

•  France 1912

Bibliography

• Jenkins, John M.; Pierce, Duncan; Auty, Timothy (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players. Wrexham: Bridge Books. ISBN 1-872424-10-4.
• 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.