Teddy Thomas (rugby union)

Teddy Thomas (born 18 September 1993) is a French international rugby union player who plays on the wing for La Rochelle in the Top 14.

Teddy Thomas
Thomas with La Rochelle in 2022
Birth nameTeddy Thomas
Date of birth (1993-09-18) 18 September 1993 (age 31)
Place of birthBiarritz, France
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight90 kg (14 st 2 lb; 198 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Fullback
Current team La Rochelle
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2014
2014–2022
2022–
Biarritz
Racing 92
La Rochelle
27
111
40
(55)
(315)
(60)
Correct as of 14 March 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012
2013
2014–
France U18
France U20
France
8
6
28
(5)
(10)
(75)
Correct as of 17 July 2021
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2012 France 7's World Series

Early life

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Thomas was raised by his French mother. His father was from Mali, played professional football in France, but disappeared before Thomas' birth. Thomas chose to use his middle name as his surname. Thomas was encouraged to play rugby by his grandfather and uncle.[1]

Career

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Club

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Thomas began his professional rugby career in 2012 playing for Biarritz Olympique during the 2012–13 Top 14 season. He made his French Top 14 debut against Toulon on 9 March 2013, coming off the bench during the final 10 minutes of the 50–15 thrashing. He went on to play a further four matches that season, earning his first start against Grenoble on 29 March 2013. He scored four tries in his debut professional season, picking up a double against Perpignan and Stade Français, while also making a break in the dying minutes of the Stade Français, to set up a try for Takudzwa Ngwenya. During that season, he also made his European debut in the 2012–13 Heineken Cup - though he made his debut against Gloucester in the 2012–13 European Challenge Cup after Biarritz dropped down from the leading tier. He scored two tries on his European debut, causing all sorts of problems for his opposite defender Charlie Sharples. In his second year with Biarritz, he appeared 20 times, only acting as a substitute just once that season. His team failed to impress on the European stage, finishing second in its pool in the 2013–14 European Challenge Cup, while in the French League, finishing last in the table with just five wins. By virtue of finishing last, Biarritz were relegated and Thomas was released from his contract. On 6 June 2014, Racing Métro announced the signing of the promising winger for the 2014–15 Top 14 season.[2] He made his debut in Round 2 of the season, starting in the 30–21 loss to Bordeaux Bègles, and scoring a try on his Racing Métro debut.

National team

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Thomas has played for France through age grade level and senior level. He was part of the France U18s side that participated in the 2011 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship in France, finishing fourth behind Ireland, England and Wales. He also played for the France U20s team during the 2013 Six Nations Under 20s Championship - finishing fifth with two wins, and played in the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship in France. Though at home, the French U20s team finished third in their pool, and set up a quarter-final against Ireland U20s, winning 9–8. They challenged Argentina U20s in the 5th place game, in which Thomas scored two tries to help France secure a 37–34 win and an overall 5th place.

His form and try scoring ability earned him a call-up to the France national team by Philippe Saint-André for their 2014 November test series against Fiji, Australia and Argentina.[3] He made his debut against Fiji, starting on the left wing, and scoring within the first minute of the match. He then went on to score a further two tries, which came just 2 minutes apart from each other.[4] Although injured in the first game of the 2015 Six Nations he did receive a KS winners medal.

International tries

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# Date Venue Opponent Result
(FRA–Opponent)
Competition
1 8 November 2014 Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France   Fiji 40–15 2014 November test series
2
3
4 15 November 2014 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France   Australia 29–26 2014 November test series
5 11 November 2017 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France   New Zealand 18–38 2017 November test series
6 3 February 2018 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France   Ireland 13–15 2018 Six Nations
7 11 February 2018 Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland   Scotland 26–32 2018 Six Nations
8
9 17 November 2018 Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille, France   Argentina 28–13 2018 November test series
10
11 9 February 2020 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France   Italy 35–22 2020 Six Nations
12 24 October 2020 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France   Wales 38–21 Test Match
13 28 November 2020 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France   Italy 36–5 Autumn Nations Cup
14 6 February 2021 Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy   Italy 50–10 2021 Six Nations
15

References

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  1. ^ "Why Teddy Thomas is France's new star". 11 November 2014.
  2. ^ Racing stock up on international stars
  3. ^ French selectors look to foreign legion
  4. ^ Thomas treble powers France to victory
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