Few forwards convert successfully from rugby union to Rugby League, but one who did with distinction is Joe Thompson. In 1923 aged 20 he became a dual code international, first playing in the Wales RU team at Twickenham and later that year for Wales in the RL international at Huddersfield.

Born in England [of English parents] he was raised from infancy at Cross Keys in Gwent. Joe played soccer until his late teens but a short time after trying rugby union he was playing in the Cross Keys first team.

In February 1923 he signed for Leeds playing in the second row. He had worked as a coalminer since the age of 13, a background that had no doubt hardened him. He was a fearless tackler and a powerful runner with terrific ball handling skills, unusual for a forward of that period. More surprising still was his masterly command of goalkicking, with 862 goals in eleven seasons playing for Leeds. In all first class games he landed 921 goals and scored over 2000 points, outscoring even the legendary Jim Sullivan in the 1927-1928 and 1929-1930 seasons.

In Test matches Joe was on the winning side eight times in 12 appearances, with the distinction of selection for Australian tours in 1924,1928 and 1932. In the history of tours downunder the only forward to equal this was Brian Edgar of Workington. On each of Thompsons three tours Britain came home with the Ashes. The 1932 tour was his apotheosis, playing in a star-studded pack in all six Tests in Australia and New Zealand. This included the infamous second Australian Test, enshrined in Rugby League history as the 'Battle of Brisbane' with nine players suffering serious injury. In New Zealand all three Tests were won and on the whole tour only two of 26 games were lost.

Joe was capped 25 times, also playing in eight internationals for Wales and five for Other Nationalities.

On his retirement in April 1933 Leeds paid him the rare honour of making him a life member of the club. The Rugby League Review said of him. " Never was there a man less likely to have his head turned by fame or flattery. His approach to life was like his approach to football- simple, direct, thoughtful and sincere. There was something reassuringly solid about that massive figure, that firmly moulded beak of a nose and that determined, jutting jaw. Joe Thompson was dependability itself. From the day at Twickenham when their scouts saw a young forward from Cwmcarn walk to the touchline, spit out a few broken teeth, and then go back into the game as though it was nothing at all out of the ordinary, Leeds knew that they were on a good thing."