Teddy Thomas (rugby union)

Teddy Thomas (born 18 September 1993 in Biarritz, France) is a French international rugby union player who plays on the Wing for Racing Métro in the Top 14.

Career

Club

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 of the bench during the final 10 minutes of the 50–15 thrashing. He went on to play a further 4 matches that season, earning his first start against Grenoble on the 29 March 2013. He scored 4 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 his Pool in the 2013–14 European Challenge Cup, while in the French League, finishing last in the table with just 5 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.^[1] 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

Thomas has played for France through age grade level and senior level. He was part of the France U18's 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 U20's 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 U20's team finished third in their Pool, and set up a quarter final against Ireland U20's, winning 9–8. They challenged Argentina U20's in the 5th place game, a game that 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.^[2] 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.^[3] Although injured in the first game of the 2015 six nations he did receive a KS winners medal.

International tries

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result (FRA–Opponent)	Competition
1.	8 November 2014	Stade de France, Paris	Fiji	40–15	2014 November test series
2.	8 November 2014	Stade de France, Paris	Fiji	40–15	2014 November test series
3.	8 November 2014	Stade de France, Paris	Fiji	40–15	2014 November test series
4.	15 November 2014	Stade de France, Paris	Australia	29–26	2014 November test series

References

External links

• Racing Métro 92 profile
• ESPN Scrum
• It's Rugby