Roy ‘Shunto’ Thomas: Hooker who helped Llanelli beat New Zealand dies aged 82

Former Llanelli hooker Roy Thomas, part of the team that beat New Zealand in 1972, has died at the age of 82.

Thomas had the unenviable record of sitting on the Wales bench a staggering 25 times during the 1970s without ever taking the field to win a cap.

In an era when substitutions were made only for injuries, he was thwarted by the presence of legendary Wales, Pontypool and British and Irish Lions hooker Bobby Windsor.

But Thomas retired having played 184 games for Llanelli between 1970 and 1977, including downing the All Blacks 9-3 on that famous day at Stradey Park.