The 37-year-old loosehead prop picked up her 65th cap when she came on for the final nine minutes in Parma as Wales ended their championship campaign on the highest of highs with a five-try, 36-10 victory over Italy.
Caryl Thomas in 2010
It was a day in which the Italians said ‘Ciao’ to their 116-times capped playmaker, Sara Barattin. She had played against Thomas on her Wales debut in a Six Nations warm-up match at Glamorgan Wanderers on 18 November, 2006.
Wales won that game 31-7, with Thomas joining Vikki Gaylard, Gemma Hallett and Sarah Simpkin as second half debutants off the bench. Thomas went on to play at four World Cups.
Wales (v Italy, 2006): Elen Evans; Louise Rickard, Rachel Poolman, Clare Flowers, Rhian Williams; Naomi Thomas, Amy Day; Amy Broadstock, Rhian Bowden, Louise Horgan, Liza Burgess, Hannah Torangi, Jamie Kift, Mellissa Berry (captain), Kylie Wilson
Reps: Caryl Thomas, Hannah Roberts, Gemma Hallett, Catrina Nicholas, Vikki Gaylard, Becky Davies, Phillippa Tuttiett
The head coach in those days was South African Fielies Coetsee. As well as giving Thomas her first cap, he also blooded second row Hannah Torangi against the Italians.
Thomas then made her Six Nations debut against England at the start of the 2011 tournament, a game that the visitors won 19-0 at Pandy Park. Elinor Snowsill, Sioned Harries and Kerin Lake, who played with her in Italy in her final appearance, were in the side that day.
Wales (v England, 2011): Aimee Young; Caryl James, Adi Taviner, Elen Evans, Charlie Murray; Elinor Snowsill, Amy Day; Caryl Thomas, Rhian Bowden, Catrin Edwards (captain), Ashley Rowlands, Shona Powell Hughes, Lisa Newton, Jamie Kift, Sioned Harries
Reps: Lowri Harries, Jenny Davies, Vicky Owens, Sian Williams, Laura Prosser, Awen Thomas, Kerin Lake
It was a very different Wales set-up in which Thomas found herself this season, as she admitted to BBC Wales.
“In some ways I feel attached to some of the old girls that used to play back in the day and the foundations that they put in place during that amateur time,” said Thomas.
“But now you can see the professionalism – it is a world apart from being an amateur. I was 16 years an amateur and one year a professional and I’m still getting PBs.
Caryl scores against Ireland 2017 World Cup
“It just shows what could have been if we had that kind of investment earlier. I was telling the girls, back in the day and my first cap in 2006, we got CDs as video analysis, my game got sent in the post! To think where we are now, we get it within five minutes.”
The analysis on the 2023 championship will make good viewing for everyone involved and shows that Wales, despite Thomas’ retirement, are in pretty good shape up front. In Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones and Sisilia Tuipulotu, backed up by Cerys Hale, Carys Phillips and Cara Hope.
“You want to leave the shirt in a better place and have people pushing on. Gwenny P, Kelsey, Carys, Cerys and Sisi are a little bomb squad, it’s so exciting.
Caryl packing down with Kelsey Jones and Sisi Tuipulotu
“If we can get our front row carrying and getting that go forward, it allows the space for the backs to do what they want. I’m so chuffed for them, they are amazing players and I’m excited for their future.”
Thomas’ rugby future lies in her coaching role at Bath University and her family life recently changed following the arrival of her daughter, Efa.
Caryl smashes into the French in 2021
