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Jon Thiel (born May 31, 1975) is a Canadian former rugby union footballer who played as a prop.

Rugby career

Born in White Rock, British Columbia, he began his rugby career with local club Bayside Sharks. He turned professional in 1999 when he joined French side Narbonne, making 25 appearances in the 1999–2000 season, before moving to England with Sale Sharks after his contract expired.

After a year with Sale, he moved to Wales, where he signed for Bridgend. When the Celtic Warriors were formed in 2003 as a merger of Bridgend and Pontypridd, Thiel was not considered part of the regional squad and briefly returned to Canada before joining the Llanelli Scarlets in November 2003, following the surprise resignation of Martyn Madden, which had left John Davies as the only senior tighthead prop in the squad.

Before making his regional debut, he played four times for Llanelli RFC in the Welsh Premiership; he also made one appearance for Carmarthen Quins.

During and after injury

Having made just 13 appearances in a little over a year with the Scarlets, a serious calf injury brought a premature end to his time at Stradey Park, and he was released in January 2005.

He then returned to Canada, where he took up a player–coach position with Bayside Sharks.

At international level, Thiel made his debut for Canada in 1998, starting in a 38–12 win over Hong Kong. He went to three Rugby World Cups with Canada – in 1999, 2003 and 2007 – and made his final appearance in a 34–13 loss to Wales at the Millennium Stadium on 14 November 2008.

Personal life

Thiel is married to former Canada women's international rugby player Jen Ross, who earned four caps between 1994 and 1996. They have three sons: twins Jake and Josh, and younger brother James. All three sons have also played rugby for Canada: Jake is a sevens specialist, making his senior debut in the 2018 Sydney Sevens, while Josh earned one cap for the senior 15s team, starting at fullback in a 33–17 win over Chile in 2018, and James played as a wing/fullback for Canada's senior development side, the Pacific Pride.

References

1. "Thiel signs for Sale". ESPNscrum. 12 July 2000. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
2. "Canadian prop Thiel on his way to Sale". BBC Sport. 12 July 2000. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
3. "Neath duo make Gnoll exit". BBC Sport. 8 June 2001. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
4. "Thiel snubs the Welsh 'quick fix'". Wales Online. Media Wales. 31 July 2003. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
5. "Scarlets sign Thiel". BBC Sport. 12 November 2003. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
6. "John Thiel - Prop". Llanelli RFC. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
7. "John Thiel - Prop". Carmarthen Quins RFC. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
8. "Thiel agrees to end Scarlets stay". BBC Sport. 18 January 2005. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
9. "Thiel takes up coaching role". ESPNscrum. 8 September 2005. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
10. Gasbarino-Knutt, Karen (26 September 2018). "The Thiel-Ross Family: A Rugby Canada Legacy Like No Other". Ædelhard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
11. "Jake Thiel". rugby.ca. Rugby Canada. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
12. "Chile v Canada at La Serena". ESPNscrum. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
13. "James Thiel". rugby.ca. Rugby Canada. Retrieved October 24, 2013.

• 1975 births
• Living people
• Canadian rugby union players
• Rugby union players from British Columbia
• People from White Rock, British Columbia
• Canada international rugby union players
• Rugby union props
• Scarlets players
• 1999 Rugby World Cup players
• 2003 Rugby World Cup players
• 2007 Rugby World Cup players
• RC Narbonne players
• Canadian expatriate rugby union players in France
• Exeter Chiefs players
• Sale Sharks players
• Canadian expatriate rugby union players in England