Player Profile

Gareth Thomas became Wales Rugby League's 47th captain when he led us to victory away against France in the final match of the 2010 European Championship, giving us a place in the 2011 Four Nations. However injury forced him into retirement from all rugby before this tournament started. With 100 rugby union test match appearances, Gareth was the most capped Wales RU player until he was overtaken by Stephen Jones. He captained that Wales side to a Six Nations and Grand Slam win in 2005 and also went on tour with the British and Irish Lions to New Zealand later that year, captaining them in the second and third tests. Gareth started his career at Pencoed RFC at youth level before starting his first class career at Bridgend. He then spent a spell at Cardiff starting in 1997 before rejoining hometown club Bridgend again in 2001 and captaining them to a Welsh Premier Division title in 2003 in the final year before regional rugby union started. He captained the short-lived regional side Celtic Warriors in 2003-04 before joining Toulouse, who he helped to a European Champions Cup victory in 2005. Cardiff Blues brought him back to Wales in 2007 and he spent three years there before switching codes to join the old Crusaders Super League side, helping them to the play-offs in 2010. Following his retirement in 2011, he has become a TV personality and sports pundit. As the UK's first men's professional rugby player to come out as gay, he features in the Pinc List of leading Welsh LGBT figures.