Welsh rugby star Jonathan Thomas - back helping Stackpole to vital victory
A very welcome visitor to Stackpole Cricket Club’s ground on a recent Saturday was Jonathan Thomas, the former Welsh rugby player and more recently Welsh fitness coach - and a regular with Stackpole in his teenage years before he found rugby fame and fortune.
Jonathan started out his time there after playing at Stackpole Junior School with Mr Lyn Childs and he also began his rugby at Pembroke Youth when he was at Pembroke School before he did brilliantly in the senior game where he played for Swansea (25 games). Ospreys (a record-equalling 188 times) and Worcester Warriors (44) – and was the youngest captain with the latter teams
Proud Welsh playing record and excellent coach
He then played 67 times for Wales and was man of the match against New Zealand in the 2003 World Cup and played in the World Cup again four years later., alongside being a proud regular in both the 2005 and 2008 ‘Grand Slam’ teams.
He then turned to coaching at Bristol before becoming head coach at Worcester – and then enjoying the last World Cup as an assistant coach under Warren Gatland. He had also done some television punditry and it quickly became obvious that is another avenue for the future, if he desires.
Family matters
But Jonathan is very much a family man and wanted to spend a little more time with his wife Laura and their children Kobi and Maya so after coaching a little rugby at the prestigious King’s School in Gloucester decided to accept a job there on a more permanent basis, especially since Kobi will be in Year Nine there in September.
It will certainly mean a lot less travel after so many years ‘on the road’.
Coincidentally, JT, as he’s known in rugby circles has been down with his family from their home in Worcester and contacted Richard McKay to ask if Stackpole were at home - and discovered that his former team was a player short and he was invited to play against Hook Seconds in Division Three.
Loved his return to the ground
“It was lovely to go to the ground and savour that special atmosphere that village clubs set out in countryside seem to have.
“Richard was unavailable but he made sure I was properly signed to play and the only other player from those distant days was Simon Bevan, whose father John was a club legend, but I was made very welcome and felt at home, despite my borrowed kit.
“Hook had loads of promising youngsters and finished up with a useful score of 162, which looked a big target to chase down. Simon Bevan looked in good nick but we lost a few wickets before I joined him at the crease.
“I even managed to feel nervous because I was so rusty but once I belted my first six I felt a lot better and we managed to take the score to just five runs short of our target, having hit two more sixes to reach the mid-30s but was caught behind, going for glory, which was a bit daft because we still had four overs to spare!
And finally . . .
JT had so much fun that there was even a chance that the family holiday could be slightly extended because Stackpole were playing at Kilgetty on last Saturday - and the name Jonathan Thomas was once again be on the Stackpole team sheet.
Richard Mackay dominated the game with 97 before he was bowled by Ben Evans and grabbed four wickets in another win, with Jonathan belting three fours in his 16 before he was out.
Richard told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk
“It was great to play alongside JT after 30 years or so and he will always be welcome whenever he can make it – as one of the gentlemen of sport and a star rugby player in the process”!