Tom Graham (rugby union)
| Full name | Thomas Cooper Graham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Newcastle upon Tyne, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Cardiff, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 13 st (182 lb; 83 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | minister | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position(s) | Centre | ||
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| Amateur team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| ? 1886–95 1894–95 |
Blaina RFC Newport RFC Barbarian F.C. |
() | |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1890–95 | Wales | 12 | (3) |
Thomas Cooper Graham (1866 – 1 December 1945) was an England-born Welsh rugby union international forward who played club rugby for Newport. He won 12 caps for Wales and was seen as intelligent, mobile forward player. Graham is most notable within rugby for his captaincy of Newport, which saw the team through one of their most successful periods, including the 1891–92 "invincible" season.
Born in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North of England, Graham had left Tyneside to find work in Newport. While in Newport he joined the rugby club, making his debut on 15 October 1886 against the Cardiff Harlequins. In 1888, Graham was part of the Newport team to face the first Southern hemisphere touring team the New Zealand Māoris. Led by Theo Harding, Newport were out-muscled by the Māoris, losing three tries to nil. By 1890, Graham had been made the team captain, an honour he would hold for four consecutive seasons.
The Newport team of the time included several players who were part of Wales's first Triple Crown-winning side. Graham's vice captain was Wales front row specialist Jim Hannan, while the rest of the team included internationals Arthur Boucher, Harry Packer, Harry Day and Welsh rugby legend Arthur Gould. Graham initiated a policy of weekly training in the teams gymnasium and an avoidance of alcohol. Welsh sports journalist 'Dromio' wrote that under Graham's captaincy '...the dressing room became a school for footballers'.
During the 1891–92 season, Newport, under the captaincy of Graham, played 33 games, winning 29, drawing 4 and losing none. With 72 goals and 95 tries scored and only three goals and five tries conceded, it was one of the greatest seasons in the team's history.
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