King’s College Taunton pupil Thomas R, will be heading off to South Africa later this month after being named in the 18-player squad for an England Men U19s training camp in preparation for the upcoming series against the Proteas early in 2025.

Thomas has been a pupil at King’s Schools since joining King’s Hall in 2011 aged four and has played for Somerset teams since under 10s , before  joining the Academy in 2021.

This selection rounds off a hugely successful year for the wicket-keeper/batter who doesn’t celebrate his 17th birthday until November 29.

During last summer Thomas played in all the Somerset Second XI T20 games and was a member of the team that lifted the Second XI T20 Cup. He averaged 112.66 in Second XI Championship cricket which included his maiden Somerset Second XI century against Gloucestershire.

Thomas made his England Under 19 debut in a One Day International against Sri Lanka at Hove in July and was appointed captain for the tri-series against Scotland and Ireland in September at Loughborough, where England won all four matches. 

In the Under18s Super 4s Thomas captained the South and West team to the T20 championship, and he hit an impressive 110 off 56 balls in a 50 over match against the North in the same tournament . 

Thomas plays his club cricket for Taunton St Andrews and during 2024 made his maiden West of England Premier League One century when he scored 124 against Frocester.

In addition to his cricketing success Thomas is a highly talented sporting all rounder. 

In 2023 he was the South West under 17 Regional Squash Champion, and National Schools U18 Plate winner playing for King’s College.  In hockey Thomas reached the under 16s National Finals day  with Taunton Vale in 2024 , in addition to which he plays for King’s First XI . In golf he has represented Somerset junior teams at under 12, 14 and 16 level and currently enjoys a handicap of 4.6.