Alun Gruffydd Thomas (3 February 1926 – 8 May 1991) was a

rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...

centre from Cwmavon who played international rugby for

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

between 1952 and 1955. He studied at UCW

Aberystwyth Aberystwyth (; ) is a University town, university and seaside town and a community (Wales), community in Ceredigion, Wales. It is the largest town in Ceredigion and from Aberaeron, the county's other administrative centre. In 2021, the popula ...

and played for the college first team and the newly founded Rugby Club. At club level he represented

Cardiff Cardiff (; ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of in and forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area officially known as the City and County of Ca ...

Swansea Swansea ( ; ) is a coastal City status in the United Kingdom, city and the List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, second-largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of ...

and

Llanelli ; ) is a market town and community (Wales), community in Carmarthenshire and the Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county of Dyfed, Wales. It is on the estuary of the River Loughor and is the largest town in the Principal areas of Wales, ...

, and was also selected for invitational tourists The Barbarians. In 1955 he toured with the British Lions in South Africa, playing in five games. He then managed the team 19 years later on the 1974 tour of South Africa. He won his first cap as a centre against England in Twickenham.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Alun 1926 births 1991 deaths Alumni of Aberystwyth University Barbarian F.C. players British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales Cardiff RFC players Llanelli RFC players Llangennech RFC players People educated at Port Talbot County Boys' Grammar School Rugby union centres Rugby union players from Neath Port Talbot Swansea RFC players Wales international rugby union players Wales Rugby Union officials Welsh rugby union players