It is with much sadness that Swansea RFC have heard about the recent passing of former ‘All Whites” player Christopher Thomas (#1996).
Christopher along with his brothers Mark & Greg were destined to play for our historic club as their father Clem Thomas was a former captain of the club as well as a renowned Welsh International and British & Irish Lion and grandfather Bruce Barter who represented the club during the 1920’s.
Christopher was educated at Blundells School as was captain of the rugby team until 1975. He was a stalwart of the “Athletic XV” and he wrote some witty memoirs called “Musings of a Travelling Rugbyman”.
He described his debut for Swansea Youth XV:-
“My first game wearing the famous All White jersey was against Mountain Ash away. We played on a pitch that was a reclaimed slag heap…if you scraped away the surface mud you were running on compacted coal dust in constant Welsh drizzle under battleship grey skies. I thought I had landed on Mars. We played a game that bore little or no resemblance to the fast-passing rugby on lush green grass public school playing fields I was used to. I played No 8 and Martin (Bottomley – Coach of Swansea Youth XV) had devised a move requiring a long lineout throw over a shortened lineout. My job was to catch the ball and drive at the fly half. Having easily secured the ball I was then smashed by a highly motivated Mountain Ash back row, as wound up as any fighting bull reacting to the pristine white jerseys of Swansea RFC. They broke my front tooth and trampled me into their mountain. Welcome to Welsh rugby”.
He made four appearances for the 1st XV over an eight-year period and his debut came at the cauldron of Sardis Road, Pontypridd in April 1978. A popular figure who will be missed by those who knew him and all at Swansea RFC would like to pass on our sincere condolences to family and friends at this difficult time.
Chirstopher Thomas’ funeral will take place at St. Peter’s Chruch, Newton on 30th May 2025 at 10.15am.