Pete Ryan: Freddie Thomas set to be a star of the future for Welsh Rugby

A fresh slate for a proud rugby nation, new faces will be looking to make a massive impact. Steve Tandy will take the helm to bring Wales back to prosperity.

There are many young talents that Tandy should look forward to working with. One of those players is Freddie Thomas—a relentless forward who looks to be a star of the future.

Thomas has been in Wales for a relatively brief time, meaning there is still plenty of time to grow.

With talent and ambition on his side, Thomas could turn the Principality Stadium into his home turf for seasons to come.

A promising career

Gloucestershire-born, Thomas is a versatile player who can perform in the back row, but primarily packs down at lock.

The Welsh international developed his game at Brendon Star RFC and the Gloucester Academy, and also attended Dean Close.

After coming through the academy, Thomas made his professional debut in the 2020/21 season. Facing Lyon marked the first time he played for his boyhood club.

Thomas quickly became a vital member of the Gloucester set-up. He made numerous appearances for his club. He has contributed around 35 points at Kingsholm.

The lock has been impressive for the club. It was time to do it for the country, but not for the nation you may have expected. Born across the bridge but bound by blood, his Welsh roots run deep.

Thomas earned international honours at age-grade levels with England. He competed for England U18s and U20s before switching to Wales for senior rugby.

October 2024 marked his rise, debuting as an uncapped lock against the mighty Springboks. Thomas was part of the side that ended Wales’ 644-day winless run in a 34–22 victory over Japan.

Thomas hopes he can amass more wins in that famous red jersey.

He can be an essential figure for Wales.

Wales are rebuilding right now, as competitors will be hoping to grow and improve.

Equally at home in the engine room or roaming the back row, Thomas brings a unique blend of power, precision in the line-out, and grit in the back row.

His versatility and strength make him a promising prospect for the Welsh team. There has been a lot of talk about his prospects as an international blindside flanker.

Even though Wales have an abundance of quality openside flankers, you could argue they lack an out-and-out blindside.

Thomas could fill this role in the not-too-distant future. It is a long road back to success for Wales, which means that Thomas has time to develop.

A look to the future for Wales

With Tandy at the helm, players are gearing up to showcase their skills to a new audience. The upcoming autumn promises to be a challenging one, with formidable opponents set to visit Cardiff.

While Wales will be eyeing the Japan game, this autumn is crucial for more than just a single victory. It’s a period to build momentum under a new regime and secure ranking points as the World Cup approaches.

Given Wales’ current ranking, advancing to the knockout stages will be a challenging task. However, Thomas is poised to play a pivotal role in the Welsh rebuild, underlining the urgency and significance of the upcoming games.

A player built for the big moments, Thomas deserves his time on the biggest stage. His journey for Wales is only just beginning.

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