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MAN OF ALL SEASONS
Roger Knight25 Apr 2020 - 09:05
From the South Wales Evening Post 16th December 2000 by Howard Evans-The story of Dunvant RFC legend Mark Thomas
Mark Thomas, the Dunvant outside-half has insisted that he will remain a one-club player until he decides to hang up his boots.
The 31 year old who began at Olchfa school and had a spell at St. Paul’s College, Cheltenham, began with Dunvant under-11’s and worked his way through to the senior team by the then 1987-88 season and there he has stayed.
“I had a spell surfing in Australia but now my love of that sport is confined to the beaches of West Wales” he said. “That is what I will continue to do for many years”.
Thomas began his education at a nursery school run by the wife of the then Dunvant senior coach John Evans. “They lived next door to us”. He had one Welsh Youth trial when Colin Stephens of Llanelli won the outside half spot, but says “There were not many good fly-halves around and I was disappointed to not get further.” Thomas emphasised how good the spirit has always been at Broadacre and how players always return there if they ever decide to try elsewhere for a spell. “Warren Lloyd, Richard Llewellyn and even Mark Perdue were playing when I started and I played against Tony Clement on several occasions when he was with Swansea.. I tried full time rugby but preferred working outside. Tony has been splendid in his new coaching role and though he was also a fly-half, he is excellent to work with. We have high hopes of Simon Daniel, who had a poorish season last term, but he is now blossoming and can be a really good player in the future. There is no competition between us., it’s all part of a good team spirit. We will be pushing for the title as the door may become unlocked to the Premier Division, who knows?. Tony, Richard and Mark have all got us to play running rugby with the ball put into the air and players running into space. I would say that “Tevvy” (Tevita Manaseitava) has been wonderful to have outside Simon and myself. His play is more like sevens rugby and he has created time for other runners to benefit. Warren has been an ideal foil for him with his solid play at centre. I’ve been lucky over the years with few injuries and usually played on until recovering in the summer. I have never kept a record of my points, but that is something to think about when I have finished my playing days”
This Swansea-born one-club player, just like his friend Warren Lloyd, has helped Dunvant to the top tier and will be trying to achieve it once more at the end of the season.
Howard Evans
For the record: (at the time of writing this article) Mark Thomas has notched 1,397 league points in 11 seasons, 8, 74, 195,158,102, 70,154, 295( 97/98 season), 188, 95 and 66 this season to date.
He is 5th in the Welsh scoring list:
Neil Jenkins 2,186
Jason Williams 1,711
Ioan Bebb 1,476
Byron Hayward 1,434
Mark Thomas 1,397
Aled Williams 1,349
Jonathan Mason 1,300
The 31 year old who began at Olchfa school and had a spell at St. Paul’s College, Cheltenham, began with Dunvant under-11’s and worked his way through to the senior team by the then 1987-88 season and there he has stayed.
“I had a spell surfing in Australia but now my love of that sport is confined to the beaches of West Wales” he said. “That is what I will continue to do for many years”.
Thomas began his education at a nursery school run by the wife of the then Dunvant senior coach John Evans. “They lived next door to us”. He had one Welsh Youth trial when Colin Stephens of Llanelli won the outside half spot, but says “There were not many good fly-halves around and I was disappointed to not get further.” Thomas emphasised how good the spirit has always been at Broadacre and how players always return there if they ever decide to try elsewhere for a spell. “Warren Lloyd, Richard Llewellyn and even Mark Perdue were playing when I started and I played against Tony Clement on several occasions when he was with Swansea.. I tried full time rugby but preferred working outside. Tony has been splendid in his new coaching role and though he was also a fly-half, he is excellent to work with. We have high hopes of Simon Daniel, who had a poorish season last term, but he is now blossoming and can be a really good player in the future. There is no competition between us., it’s all part of a good team spirit. We will be pushing for the title as the door may become unlocked to the Premier Division, who knows?. Tony, Richard and Mark have all got us to play running rugby with the ball put into the air and players running into space. I would say that “Tevvy” (Tevita Manaseitava) has been wonderful to have outside Simon and myself. His play is more like sevens rugby and he has created time for other runners to benefit. Warren has been an ideal foil for him with his solid play at centre. I’ve been lucky over the years with few injuries and usually played on until recovering in the summer. I have never kept a record of my points, but that is something to think about when I have finished my playing days”
This Swansea-born one-club player, just like his friend Warren Lloyd, has helped Dunvant to the top tier and will be trying to achieve it once more at the end of the season.
Howard Evans
For the record: (at the time of writing this article) Mark Thomas has notched 1,397 league points in 11 seasons, 8, 74, 195,158,102, 70,154, 295( 97/98 season), 188, 95 and 66 this season to date.
He is 5th in the Welsh scoring list:
Neil Jenkins 2,186
Jason Williams 1,711
Ioan Bebb 1,476
Byron Hayward 1,434
Mark Thomas 1,397
Aled Williams 1,349
Jonathan Mason 1,300
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