Thomas set for Test rugby return

[TRF_Cymro]

Ex-Wales rugby union captain Gareth Thomas is poised to resurrect his Test career in rugby league.

Thomas, 36, made his 100th and final Wales union appearance on the day Fiji knocked them out of the 2007 World Cup.

He moved from Cardiff Blues to Super League's Crusaders in March and Wales Rugby League officials say Thomas is keen to play at international level.

"He has indicated that he would be available," said Welsh RL chief executive Mark Rowley.

"This would be another feather in his cap. He has played 100 times for Wales and he could get another three or four caps for Wales Rugby League."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/8875028.stm​

 

[cyRil]

I don't care what people think or say of him, he is an all-time great.

 

[allblacksfreak]

I don't care what people think or say of him, he is an all-time gayreat.

Hmm.. for the gayest straight man cyrill's got a point

 

[cyRil]

Hmm.. for the gayest straight man cyrill's got a point

Oh, you are silly!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I wouldn't be surprised if he makes it into the Wales team.
He's an average league player imo, but just on reputation, and publicity, he'll make it. Won't neccesarily be a bad thing, as getting League (especially international) more exposure in Wales will be good.

 

[MichaelBoard]

all the best to him, hope he performs well for Wales if he gets picked

 

[Feicarsinn]

How bleedin' awful must the Welsh RL team be? No offense guys, but seriously, he has done **** all in RL and is about a trillion years of age.

 

[Saints1]

He's done quite well for the Crusaders actually.

And in answer to your question, the Wales RL team has got a long way to go. Failing to qualify for the 2008 World Cup has set their game back by about 10 years.

 

[SelimNiai]

Don't Crusaders have a responsibility for that though. Whilst they are having a terrific season they only have a small number of UK players and very few, if any, Welsh players. For the Welsh game to develop the Crusaders need to get the kids in playing and from there new talant will grow.

The issue is taking the players away from Union which 90% of most Welsh children (I'm guessing) want to play Union or Football.

Wales RL had the players a few years ago, Harris, Cunningham etc but to improve they will either have to develop their young talent which will take a few years or be a bit more ruthless in trying to convert Unuion players which, as many failed converts have shown, doesn't always work out.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

He's done quite well for the Crusaders actually.

And in answer to your question, the Wales RL team has got a long way to go. Failing to qualify for the 2008 World Cup has set their game back by about 10 years.

I do suspect them to do better in their up and coming games. The game is growing especially up in North Wales. Hopefully might see some more decent Welsh rugby league players in the moulds of Iestyn Harris and Anthony Sullivan. Ben Flower is in the mould, a good Welsh youngster coming through.

Don't Crusaders have a responsibility for that though. Whilst they are having a terrific season they only have a small number of UK players and very few, if any, Welsh players. For the Welsh game to develop the Crusaders need to get the kids in playing and from there new talant will grow.

The issue is taking the players away from Union which 90% of most Welsh children (I'm guessing) want to play Union or Football.

Wales RL had the players a few years ago, Harris, Cunningham etc but to improve they will either have to develop their young talent which will take a few years or be a bit more ruthless in trying to convert Unuion players which, as many failed converts have shown, doesn't always work out.

Targeting youngsters is what they are doing now. The Crusaders have a strong academy set up and I expect more to step up soon.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Scorpions have a fair few Welsh players, so with Crusaders and the SW Scorpions there's more oppurtunity for Welsh players to play at a professional level

I went to see Wales/England at Brewery field last year, and it wasn't sold out. Says something when the same match but union will sell out Twickers/Millenium, so 80k+, but RL won't bring in 9k

 

[cyRil]

GOOD! The less popular Rugby League is in Wales the better!!

 

[Saints1]

Sounds like someone is getting worried.

 

[Saints1]

Don't Crusaders have a responsibility for that though. Whilst they are having a terrific season they only have a small number of UK players and very few, if any, Welsh players. For the Welsh game to develop the Crusaders need to get the kids in playing and from there new talant will grow.

The issue is taking the players away from Union which 90% of most Welsh children (I'm guessing) want to play Union or Football.

Wales RL had the players a few years ago, Harris, Cunningham etc but to improve they will either have to develop their young talent which will take a few years or be a bit more ruthless in trying to convert Unuion players which, as many failed converts have shown, doesn't always work out.

Cunningham and Briers were both born in St Helens - they're about as Welsh as me!

The Crusaders are moving the game forward, although I have big, big problems with their relocation, but it's going to take a long time to repair the damage that defeat by Lebanon in 2007 caused.

 

[SelimNiai]

Cunningham and Briers were both born in St Helens - they're about as Welsh as me!

The Crusaders are moving the game forward, although I have big, big problems with their relocation, but it's going to take a long time to repair the damage that defeat by Lebanon in 2007 caused.

I knew that.

You know you're bad a sport when you lose to a team where 9/10 people have no idea where the heck that country is.

 

[ranger]

Cunningham and Briers were both born in St Helens - they're about as Welsh as me!

The Crusaders are moving the game forward, although I have big, big problems with their relocation, but it's going to take a long time to repair the damage that defeat by Lebanon in 2007 caused.

Isn't Lebanon just a side made up of Sydney club players of Lebonese descent? the likes of Hazem El Mazri and that

 

[cyRil]

Sounds like someone is getting worried.

Not exactly worried, I just don't want players who could be good at union going to play league.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not exactly worried, I just don't want players who could be good at union going to play league.

What about t'other way round, though?

 

[SelimNiai]

Not exactly worried, I just don't want players who could be good at union going to play league.

Send the riff-raff. Send the rubbish and send the overrated.

Biggar, you first sonny.

 

[cyRil]

What about t'other way round, though?

Quite frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.