- Date of Birth06 / 09 / 1882
- Died30 / 10 / 1958
- Lions Tours1904
- International CapsWales / Lions
- Lions Origin SchoolsNewport Intermediate School
- Lions Origin ClubsLondon Welsh, Monmouthshire, Barbarians, Blackheath, Newport, Crawshays, Pill Harriers
Scrum-half Thomas Vile was one of the stars of the 1904 Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand that saw the team win 16 of 19 matches.
Vile himself would appear in 14 of those games, helping himself to a try in wins against Queensland Reds and New England.
Vile also played in two of the three Tests victories over Australia, while he also featured in the sole clash with New Zealand, one the Lions lost 9-3 in Wellington.
He was 21 at the time of the tour but remarkably would not make his Wales debut for another four years, en route to amassing eight caps.
However, Vile’s involvement with the Lions didn’t stop there as after his playing career he became a referee and in 1927 he officiated all four British Lions games against Argentina.
He also fought in both World Wars, became a president of the Welsh Rugby Union, was a Justice of the Peace and High Sheriff of Monmouthshire.