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Montpellier prop Henry Thomas has 'big decisions to make' over Wales future
Wales prop Henry Thomas has admitted he has “big decisions to make” over his Wales future after signing a new short term deal with Montpellier, but insists he is still eligible to play for Warren Gatland’s side.
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The former England tighthead joined the Top 14 outfit in 2021, and after two impressive years in the south of France, including a league title in 2022, he was capped by Wales this summer before making their World Cup squad. Despite being based abroad, he was allowed to be selected for Wales as he was uncapped.
However, his deal with Montpellier was not renewed at the end of the last season, meaning he would have to move to one of the Welsh regions to carry on playing Test rugby as he fell under the 25-cap threshold with only four Wales caps to his name.
After rejoining Montpellier as a medical joker at the end of October, there were concerns that he would no longer be able to represent Wales, as he is now a capped player with under 25 caps playing abroad. But speaking to the BBC recently, the 32-year-old said that he had only signed an extension of his current deal, meaning he can still play for Wales. This is an approach that has been used by plenty of Welsh internationals in past years to ensure they can continue to for their same club rugby outside of Wales but remain part of the international set-up.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m still eligible,” Thomas said.
“This was all agreed beforehand under my previous contact. All the talk has been around, being able to do both, club and country.”
“Thankfully the president [Lorent Nicollin] stepped in and helped me out because he knew I loved playing here.
“Initially it’s short-term, but it’s pretty open-ended. What happens after the next few months remains up in the air.
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“That uncertainty is not ideal, but I guess I made my bed when I decided to play for Wales and have a crack at getting to the World Cup.”
Thomas did admit though that he has some decisions to make over the coming months, particularly if his deal with Montpellier is not renewed.
“I had a conversation with [forwards coach] Jonathan Humphreys after the World Cup which was generally positive,” said Thomas.
“If I’m still wanted by Wales then I may have some big decisions to make over the coming months. However right now, it’s hard to second guess anything.”
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*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
226 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
226 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
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11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
16 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
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1 Go to commentsIf Havili can play anywhere in the back line, why not first 5. #10.
11 Go to commentsThe dressing room had already left for their summer break before they ran out in Dublin that year, and that’s on the coach. Franco Smith has undoubtedly made progress, particularly their maul, developing squad players and increasing squad depth. And against a very tight budget too. That said they were too lightweight last year and got found out against both Toulon and Munster in consecutive games. Better this season so far but they’ve developed something of a slow start habit occasionally, most notably losing at home to Northampton who played them at their own game. Play offs will ultimately show whether there has been tangible progress on last year, or not…!
2 Go to commentsAustralian Rugby has been a disaster, by not incorporating learning from previous successful campaigns. QLD Reds 2011 - Waratahs 2014. Players, coaches and administrators appoint there representatives for scheduled meetings, organisation’s agreement’s assessments and correspondence. This why a unified Rugby Union under one entity works. Every Rugby nation has taken that path. Was most difficult in the Northern hemisphere with over 100 years of club rugby before the game become professional. Took a lot of humility for those unions to eventually work together.
7 Go to commentsThough Wilson’s sacking was pretty brutal, it wasn’t just down to that Leinster game; Glasgow had a lot of 2nd half collapses that season, in the URC and Europe, and only just scraped into the playoffs. Franco Smith has definitely been an improvement, some players are delivering far more than they did under Wilson.
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