Ian Thomson (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Ian Thomson is an Australian former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1970s and 80s. An Australian international and New South Wales interstate
representative front row forward, he played club football for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
, with whom he won the 1978 NSWRFL Premiership, as well as the Balmain Tigers
.
Thomson came from a strong rugby league family. His father Jim and brother Gary were both Balmain
players. His uncle, Allan Thomson was an Australian international. Ian played President's Cup for Balmain in 1974. He then spent two seasons with Quanbeyan under coach Don Furner
, earning representative honours with Country Firsts in 1976. He returned to Sydney, signing with Manly-Warringah
for the 1977 NSWRFL season. The following year he represented New South Wales
and was first selected to play for Australia in the first test against New Zealand
. The 1978 NSWRFL season's Grand Final was to be played by the Manly-Warringah and Cronulla-Sutherland clubs. The game ended in a draw and resulted in a re-play which was won by Manly-Warringah, with Thomson playing in both matches. After that he went on the 1978 Kangaroo tour.
In the second-last round of the 1980 regular season, Thomson was sent off for a high tackle and was subsequently suspended by the judiciary for the rest of the season.
In November 1980 Thomson agreed to play for two seasons with the Balmain Tigers
, however he played only one season. The following year he returned to the Sea Eagles and reached the Grand Final which was eventually lost to the Parramatta Eels
.
In 1983 Thomson broke his arm in the first minute of a mid-season match against Eastern Suburbs which resulted in a further break, four operations and the insertion of a steel plate, eventually forcing his retirement in 1986. He then started coaching in the Newcastle area.
In 2000 Thomson was appointed Chairman of the newly formed Northern Eagles
club, overseeing the demise of the merger with the North Sydney Bears
at the end of 2001 and the reversion of the franchise to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Thomson continued on at Manly, becoming Chief Executive.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1970s and 80s. An Australian international and New South Wales interstate
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
representative front row forward, he played club football for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
, with whom he won the 1978 NSWRFL Premiership, as well as the Balmain Tigers
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
.
Thomson came from a strong rugby league family. His father Jim and brother Gary were both Balmain
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
players. His uncle, Allan Thomson was an Australian international. Ian played President's Cup for Balmain in 1974. He then spent two seasons with Quanbeyan under coach Don Furner
Don Furner
Don Furner is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. As a player he represented Queensland on nine occasions and also toured with the 1956–57 Kangaroos....
, earning representative honours with Country Firsts in 1976. He returned to Sydney, signing with Manly-Warringah
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
for the 1977 NSWRFL season. The following year he represented New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
and was first selected to play for Australia in the first test against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
. The 1978 NSWRFL season's Grand Final was to be played by the Manly-Warringah and Cronulla-Sutherland clubs. The game ended in a draw and resulted in a re-play which was won by Manly-Warringah, with Thomson playing in both matches. After that he went on the 1978 Kangaroo tour.
In the second-last round of the 1980 regular season, Thomson was sent off for a high tackle and was subsequently suspended by the judiciary for the rest of the season.
In November 1980 Thomson agreed to play for two seasons with the Balmain Tigers
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
, however he played only one season. The following year he returned to the Sea Eagles and reached the Grand Final which was eventually lost to the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
.
In 1983 Thomson broke his arm in the first minute of a mid-season match against Eastern Suburbs which resulted in a further break, four operations and the insertion of a steel plate, eventually forcing his retirement in 1986. He then started coaching in the Newcastle area.
In 2000 Thomson was appointed Chairman of the newly formed Northern Eagles
Northern Eagles
The Northern Eagles were a rugby league team, that competed in the National Rugby League between 2000 and 2002. The club was formed during the rationalisation process of the NRL by the merger of the North Sydney Bears and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2000...
club, overseeing the demise of the merger with the North Sydney Bears
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
at the end of 2001 and the reversion of the franchise to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Thomson continued on at Manly, becoming Chief Executive.