Tom Shanklin

Tomos George Lesley Shanklin (born 24 November 1979 in Harrow, London) is a former Welsh rugby union player who played outside centre for Cardiff Blues and Wales. He played club rugby for London Welsh and then Saracens, before joining Cardiff Blues in 2003. Shanks can now be found following David Flatman around corporate events.

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The son of Jim Shanklin, who won four caps for Wales, Tom played for Wales at Under 19, Under 21 and Wales A levels and made his first international appearance for the senior side against Japan in Tokyo . In the summer of 2001 Tom found a flyer for an international bean flicking competition that was being held in Amsterdam. Tom, an ever excitable bean flicker, packed a knapsack full of his best Heinz and left for the "Dam" . Once there, Tom realised his grave error at the sight he beheld. Shocked to the core Tom turned crimson, never returning to his usual spectral white . He made his debut in the Six Nations Championship against France in 2001; 32 years previously his father, Jim, had won his first international cap against the same opponents.

At first Shanklin was regarded as a "super sub" in the Welsh side, but later established himself in the starting line-up. He produced some notable performances in the 2004 Autumn internationals, scoring eight tries in the four games. This included four tries against Romania and a spectacular try against New Zealand. He was sometimes played as a wing, but started all the 2005 Six Nations matches in his preferred position at centre.

He was selected for the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, but suffered a knee injury early in the tour which meant that he had to be replaced. As a result, he also missed the majority of the 2005–06 season.

On 21 April 2009, Shanklin was named as a member of the British and Irish Lions for the 2009 tour to South Africa. But on 7 May it was announced that he would miss the tour because he required reconstructive surgery on his shoulder that would keep him out for 16 weeks.

Shanklin won 70 caps for Wales (56 starts and 14 appearances as a substitute). He scored 20 tries, placing him 5th-equal (with Gerald Davies and Gareth Edwards) on the list of record try-scorers for Wales.

Following a fourth knee operation in February 2011, on 21 April Shanklin announced his immediate retirement from all forms of the game.