Tommy Thompson

Gerald "Tommy" W. Thompson (4 October 1886 – 20 June 1916) was a South African rugby union player who played for Somerset West Rugby Club. He was selected for the provincial team of Western Province in 1912. He was selected to participate in the 1912–13 South Africa rugby tour to the British Isles and France, and was capped in three tests, against , and , all in 1912. He played in a further 12 matches against club sides. He was considered one of the two best of an outstanding pack of South African forwards. At the outbreak of the First World War, Thompson wilingly volunteered for service, first in South West Africa, and then in the German East Africa campaign, with the 5th South African Infantry. He was killed in action at Kangata, taking a bullet in the neck. He is buried in the Dar es Salaam War Cemetery, near his fellow countryman and teammate Jacky Morkel, who died a few weeks before him. Early life Tommy Thompson was born on 4 October 1886, in Carnarvon, Cape Colony, and attended Rondebosch Boys' High School. Rugby career Thompson played rugby for Somerset West Rugby Club, and in 1912 was selected for his provincial club Western Province. He was a member of the n rugby team that toured the British Isles and France in 1912–13. The team won all four of its international matches against the Home Nations, and against . Thompson played against , , and , and in a further twelve matches against other teams. He was considered to be one of the two best amongst the 'finest pack of forwards'. The contemporary rugby journalist and author E. H. D. Sewell recounted seeing the game against Ireland at Lansdowne Road on 23 November 1912, and said of Thompson: "I have never seen a better individual performance than his on that frost-bound pitch... Only a few have I seen to equal that all-round display". Thompson played "like one possessed" en route to a 38 point to zero victory.