The word legend gets bandied about way too much in modern
life nowadays.
Someone who gets through a reality show and then releases a
couple of moderately successful albums can become a “legend” of the music
industry, and that’s not right.
In sport you only need to be a handsomely paid footballer
and bag a league title amongst a group of world class players to be judged as
integral which for me doesn’t sit quite right.
Fortunately we take all of these factors into account before
opening the door to the Sang-et-Or hall of Fame and this inductee deserves a
statue at the Stade Gilbert Brutus, such has been his impact to this day and hopefully
beyond.
Thomas Bosc in stats
Source Wikipedia
Thomas Bosc has been a one club man and was there at the
very start of the unified Catalans club.
Bosc has played several positions including the wing, full
back and scrum half. His creative play led to an impressive 1 try in every 4
matches across his career and over 1300 points thanks to his kicking.
But Bosc was more than that. He was a player who dug in when
the going got tough, and would often be seen playing on covered in bandages and
head dressings. He loved playing in our derby with London and scored one of the
Dragons greatest ever try’s with a left foot, right foot dink over defenders
before gathering to dive under the sticks.
It was an Easter treat that I will never forget.
Inevitably as time caught up with the great man he was preserved
and played less frequently, but when his club needed him, he was ready and
willing to play.
I remember some wing cameos as the end of his career drew
near. These I will cherish as I knew we wouldn’t be seeing him for much longer.
When his retirement came, the Dragons were wise enough to keep
him in and around the club. He took on coaching for the domestic league side
(U23s) but after a terrible start to 2018 Steve McNamara soon promoted him to
join him in the first team dugout.
And that’s the image of Bosc we see most regularly now.
Headphones on, prowling the touchline or jogging on to offer some tactical
tweak when a stoppage in play allows.
The guy is an absolute legend (a proper one) and epitomises
the creative flair and flamboyance that our club is renowned for. I hope he
stays with us forever such is the reverence Thomas is held in.