Edward John Richard “Dick” Thomas was born on 14 October 1883 in Ferndale, Wales. He was educated at Ferndale Board School, near Cardiff, in Glamorganshire, and began playing rugby locally with the Ferndale Scarlets. 

Born into a mining family, he naturally followed the same path and became an apprentice miner at the age of 14. He then joined the Glamorgan Police and rose to the rank of Sergeant. 

During his ten years of service, he played rugby with Mountain Ash, Bridgend, and the Police. His skills soon came to notice, and he was selected to play for a senior club, Penygraig, based in Rhondda and became a regular member of the Glamorgan County XV. 
 
It was during this time that he was noticed by the Welsh selectors, who named him as a reserve forward for three Welsh internationals in 1904-1905. He played in international matches against South Africa in 1906, France and Ireland in 1908, and played his last game for Wales against Scotland in 1909. 

Had it not been for serious illnesses and injuries, he would certainly have earned more caps, however, he still managed to play in two successive Grand Slam winning teams.

When the First World War broke out, Thomas was a member of the Welsh Police force and was unable to leave his duty until 16 January 1915. 

He joined the 16th Battalion Welsh Regiment and was promoted to Company Sergeant Major on completion of his military training. The Welsh Division was deployed on the Western Front in December 1915. He was killed in action on 7 July 1916 in the assault on Mametz Wood during the Battle of the Somme. 

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 8C, 9A, 16A).