Second row Nick Thomas is ready to build on a ‘whirlwind’ season for Dragons RFC as he jets out to Italy for the World Rugby U20 Championship.
Senior Dragons Academy prospect Thomas has won his personal fitness race to make the plane with his international team-mates after suffering a nasty injury in the Six Nations opener against France at the start of February.
The 19-year-old had previously enjoyed a breakthrough season for the Men of Gwent as injuries saw him thrust into the senior set-up for European action and the festive derbies.
“It was a whirlwind,” Thomas told the South Wales Argus. “I hadn’t even expected to play in pre-season, but I played against Hartpury, Bristol, and Bath.
“Then I had a good run of games for Newport, and it all came so fast – never in a million years did I think that I would make my Dragons debut before December.
“The boys have been brilliant and it’s amazing to learn from the likes of Ben Carter and Matthew Screech, watching how they train and look at the game.”
His momentum during the season was stalled when he suffered the freak injury landing on his left leg on the stroke of half-time in the Six Nations opener in Vannes.
“I just landed straight on my ankle and completely tore the whole left side and ripped up the right, while there was also a fracture,” he said.
“It was a lovely pitch but a freak accident – I could do another 1,000 jumps and not do it again. I didn’t even know what had happened, I just knew that my foot was killing me.
“I was really enjoying my season and that first 40 minutes in France was one of the most enjoyable of it; I felt good, but these things happen in rugby.”
The focus for the 6ft 5ins forward is now continuing to develop in Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC) with Newport RFC and being ready if a senior call arrives.
“I have to perform well in the SRC and then if I am needed because of injuries I will hope to step up,” said Thomas.
“I want to keep developing and performing well for Newport, where I have learnt so much from playing alongside the likes of Ben Roach and Josh Skinner and where Ceri Jones is in charge of the forwards.”
But first and foremost, the World Rugby U20 Championship looms large as Wales U20s prepare to face Argentina on Sunday, France the following Friday before rounding off the group stages against Spain.
“We’re all just looking to that Argentina game first up, get the win and hopefully we can kick on,” concluded Thomas.
“We’ve got a similar pack to last year’s tournament and that experience can help us in tough and tight games.”
The boys have been brilliant and it’s amazing to learn from the likes of Ben Carter and Matthew Screech, watching how they train and look at the game...
