Thomas Eymard Reid was born in Limerick on 3 March 1926 and educated at Christian Boys' College in the city. He worked as a sales' representative and played at lock for the Garryowen club. In 1954 he played for Munster against New Zealand and the following year was at No 8 for the Scotland & Ireland XV against England & Wales in Dublin. He gained 13 caps for Ireland between 1953 and 1957. On the British Isles' tour of South Africa in 1955 he made 13 appearances, including two tests, and scored two tries. Shortly after the Barbarians' tour of Canada in 1957 he emigrated to that country. Tom Reid died on 12 November 1996, aged 70.