A search has begun for the missing rugby jerseys that belonged to Clem Thomas, the former Wales forward who was instrumental in the last victory over the All Blacks 64 years ago.
Thomas – whose cross-kick famously led to Ken Jones’ try that enabled Wales to beat New Zealand in 1953 – died in 1996.
Now, in connection with a new book written by his son Chris, a hunt has been launched for Thomas’s collection of international shirts that went missing in New Zealand in 1993.
A cattle-dealer and a butcher, Welsh rugby icon Thomas played 26 times for Wales from 1949 to 1959, was proud to be captain on nine occasions and was a British and Irish Lion. His colourful career and his exploits on and off the field in the era of amateur rugby are beautifully captured through memoirs, anecdotes and humorous stories in the new book “Clem” written by his eldest son Chris.
Clem played against all the top teams of his era such as the All Blacks and following rugby tradition swapped his iconic red Welsh jersey with the three feathers for his opponents’ jersey on many occasions.
His collection, of his own shirts and opponents jerseys, included All Black, Springbok, Wallaby, Lions, Ireland, England, Scotland and Barbarian jerseys. But 24 years ago, his collection was unfortunately lost in New Zealand and a search is now on to find them.
Clem won a Cambridge Blue in 1949, won a Triple Crown in 1952, is renowned for that cross-kick in 1953, toured South Africa with the British Lions in 1955 – drawing the Test series 2-2, won the Five Nations championship in four campaigns and as captain beat Australia.
His 19 Test match wins include a Lions test against South Africa, making him one of very few Welshmen to record wins against all three southern hemisphere countries.
Swansea-born he became a local legend with a reputation for unyielding physicality and tough tackling that stunned opponents and spectators alike.
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After his playing career he became a renowned UK rugby journalist. In 1960 he joined The Observer as Chief Rugby Correspondent until 1993 when he joined The Independent on Sunday for whom he wrote until his death in 1996.
He travelled extensively to the southern hemisphere as a journalist and it was on the 1993 British Lions tour of New Zealand that his wonderful collection of international rugby jerseys, many of which he has swapped personally, went missing and now his family are seeking their whereabouts and asking the New Zealand media and public to assist.
Lion Brewery in New Zealand sponsored Clem and the jersey memorabilia on the 1993 tour but after visiting New Plymouth the collection disappeared. The exhibits were contained within an original, blue Lions player trunk with a yellow band around the middle. In the centre of the band was printed the number 26 – Clem’s tour number on the 1955 tour to South Africa.
Book author Chris and his brother Greg, who is Super Rugby’s media manager, are now on the search for the missing collection to coincide with the book’s launch. Earlier this year the son of Wallaby captain Bob Davidson returned to Greg, Clem’s Welsh jersey that was swapped after the 1958 Wales versus Australia match, which raised the question of Clem’s jersey collection.
If anyone knows of the whereabouts of the collection, remembers seeing it or can assist in any way please contact greg.thomas6@bigpond.com