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

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

centre from Cwmavon who played international rugby for

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

between 1952 and 1955. He studied at UCW

Aberystwyth Aberystwyth () is a university and seaside town as well as a community in Ceredigion, Wales. Located in the historic county of Cardiganshire, means "the mouth of the Ystwyth". Aberystwyth University has been a major educational location in ...

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

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

Swansea Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe). The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...

and

Llanelli Llanelli ("St Elli's Parish"; ) is a market town and the largest community in Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed, Wales. It is located on the Loughor estuary north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. ...

, 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