Richard Clement Charles Thomas was born in Cardiff on 28 January 1929 and educated at Blundell's School and Cambridge University. He was a master butcher and after his playing days became a respected rugby correspondent for 'The Observer'. He was first capped at wing-forward for Wales in 1949 and later that year won his Blue in the Varsity Match. He played club rugby for London Welsh and Harlequins but mostly for Swansea, whom he captained in 1954/55. He also captained Wales nine times in his 26 internationals, the last against France in 1959. In 1955 he toured South Africa with the British Isles, playing in 10 games, including two test matches. His nine games for the Barbarians included five Easter tours, the match against New Zealand in 1954, and the captaincy against Cardiff in 1954 and Penarth in 1959. Clem Thomas died on 6 September 1996, aged 67.