He made 76 appearances for Llanelli RFC in the Welsh Premiership over a three-year period, won 17 Wales U20 caps and made eight appearances for the Scarlets. He made his debut in Scarlet playing alongside three future internationals in Scott Williams, Liam Williams and Dom Day.
He then left to ply his trade in England and enjoyed two successful periods in the west country at Gloucester and Bristol Bears. But now the Carmarthenshire farmer is back home on the Welsh side of the Severn Bridge and ready to return to his roots – as a Cardiff player.
He kicked-off in fine style in his first competitive game in Blue & Black by scoring a try and picking up the man of the match award in the win over Zebre last weekend. Now he is looking forward to getting his first taste of a Welsh derby against at Parc Y Scarlets in Round 2.
After 144 games for Bristol over a seven-year period he is used to playing in big derby matches against Bath and Gloucester, but this will be his first experience of a Welsh regional clash, despite spending a short period on loan at the Scarlets in 2022.
“It’s going to be my first Welsh derby and I’m looking forward to it. I was on loan to the Scarlets the season before last, they treated me well and I enjoyed the couple of weeks I had down there,” said the 30-year-old back row man.
“I’m obviously a Cardiff player now and the main objective is to get another five points. I’ve a lot of family down west, so it will be a good occasion, and I just hope they will stay true to me!
“In fairness, they all followed me when I was at Bristol, and they were in Cardiff for the Zebre game. Having a break from farming and coming to watch rugby on the weekend is a big plus for them and they enjoy it.”
Helping out on the family farm at Croesyceiliog, near Carmarthen, has helped to give Thomas a break from rugby. With a herd of 130 cattle to tend to, he is always a welcome and busy visitor when he heads home.
“As a pro, it can be rugby, rugby, rugby, so it’s nice to have something to switch off with. It provides a good life balance,” he added.
“Most days off, I will head home back to the farm to help out as much as I can. I’m pretty involved down there and when I finish playing that’s what I’m going to do full time.
“Farming has been a big part of my life since I was born. It’s a style of living I really enjoy and that’s my future – the target is to play until I’m 35 and then head back to the farm.”
Despite playing two full seasons for Wales U20 and helping them to reach the final of the Junior World Championship in France in 2013, he has never made it into the senior international ranks. No fewer than 24 players he played with in his 17 U20 caps did progress, including one of the players he has replaced at Cardiff, Ellis Jenkins.
Gareth Thomas and Elliot Dee are still in the current Wales squad, while when he returns to fitness his new Cardiff clubmate Thomas Young will find himself renewing his rivalry from more than a decade ago with Thomas.
“I have still got a lot of rugby left in me and a lot of aspirations. I haven’t come to Cardiff to cruise – I’ve come here to push myself, and I’ve come to play and to put a smile on my face,” added Thomas.
“I have really enjoyed it so far, it has been really revitalising. I’ve always prided myself on working hard and doing well the things that don’t require talent.
“I think we’re heading in the right direction. As long as we get better every week, that’s the main target, but we need to learn quickly as we’ve got Scarlets next, which will be a tough contest.”
