Henry Thomas’ rugby profession has introduced him all kinds of experiences.bHe’s represented two completely different international locations at worldwide stage and performed in three completely different leagues.
Now, on the age of 33, the Scarlets prop is ready for one thing new as he prepares for his first style of the Judgement Day double header on the Principality Stadium (Saturday, April 19).
It’s an event he’s trying ahead to and in addition one he considers vitally necessary – labelling his group’s conflict with Dragons RFC a “should win” sport by way of their hopes of creating the BKT URC Play-Offs.
The London-born tighthead had spells at Sale and Bathtub, throughout which period he gained seven caps for England. A change to France adopted with strikes to Montpellier and Castres and it was whereas he was throughout the Channel that the decision got here from Wales.
Below new eligibility legal guidelines, he was capable of play for the land of his Swansea-born father as he hadn’t appeared for England for 3 years.
So it is that he now has another seven caps to his name, but with the three feathers on his chest rather than the red rose.
He has also come to play in Wales, joining the Scarlets last summer, which is how he finds himself heading into Judgement Day.
It will be a new experience for him although it does strike something of a chord from days gone by.
“For two or three years, when I was at Bath, we had The Clash at Twickenham,” he explains.
“It wasn’t a double header, but it was kind of similar, around Easter time.
“It was against either Leicester or Bristol, groups with large fan bases that had been prone to journey.
“You used to get crowds of about 60,000 for it.”
As such, Thomas can perceive the pondering behind Judgement Day, which is able to see the Scarlets-Dragons sport observe the Ospreys-Cardiff opener.
“To place all 4 groups in the identical stadium makes huge sense,” he says.
“I haven’t been dwell, however I’ve watched it on TV and it’s one thing the boys speak about as being an enormous event.
“It’s all the time in the direction of the top of the season, so the climate is normally good and it’s gearing up in the direction of the enterprise finish of the marketing campaign.
“For us, it’s trying like a must-win with the way in which our season has panned out and it’s the identical for Ospreys and Cardiff as nicely.
“Everybody is aware of that going to South Africa for the ultimate two rounds goes to be powerful and factors shall be tough to come back by.
“So all of the Welsh areas, together with ourselves, are scrambling for each level we are able to get.”
For Thomas, it’s going to even be an opportunity to have one other outing on the Principality Stadium the place he has appeared a few instances for Wales, together with the thrilling encounter with Ireland within the latest Six Nations.
“Even if in case you have performed 50 instances to your nation, it’s nonetheless a particular place to play,” he mentioned.
“There shall be lots of people there and we’re going to be closely motivated by that, for positive.
“You’re all the time buzzing about any alternative you get to play in entrance of a giant crowd, particularly at an awesome stadium like that.”
United Rugby Championship
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PF
PA
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Complete
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14
13
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62
2
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54
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Whereas the Dragons are backside of the desk, Thomas insists the play-off chasing Scarlets will now be taking them evenly.
“They’re in all probability not as dangerous because the outcomes have proven and I do know they are going to be annoyed they’ve misplaced a good quantity of shut video games. So, it’s positively no straightforward match,” he mentioned.
“They have loads of internationals, loads of high quality gamers, so will probably be a extremely thrilling sport.
“In a method, for them, it’s strain off. They may wish to go on the market and carry out, excite their followers and get one thing out of it. For us, it’s actually necessary as we’re preventing for each level to hopefully make the highest eight. So it seems like there’s a lot using on it.”
Thomas added: “There’s positively extra on it in terms of the derbies.
“Even in coaching, it steps up a gear. There’s a good quantity of strain coming from the gamers which have been there for some time about how a lot they wish to get one over on the opposite group or sure people.
“It makes it thrilling. You wish to play for them and also you additionally know the way a lot it means to the supporters.”
Thomas, whose spouse Josie is because of give start to their first little one in July, has settled in nicely on the Scarlets, establishing himself as a key member of the pack.
“I’ve actually loved it. They’re an awesome group of men,” he says.
“It helps that I’ve bought a relationship with Dwayne Peel from our Sale days. We performed collectively for 4 years there when he was the previous fella and I used to be the younger man. That dynamic is sweet and a part of the rationale I signed up for this challenge.
“The squad is pretty younger, with high quality gamers, and I feel the skilled addition of myself, plus a couple of others, has actually set these guys to do good issues. I’ve beloved it.”
Thomas’ wonderful kind with the Scarlets noticed him chosen to make his first begin for Wales within the Six Nations opener towards France and he was to play in three matches throughout the Championship.
“It was an enormous honour to be again enjoying within the Six Nations. It had been 11 years since my final look in it. That’s a pretty big hole. It’s an awesome competitors and it’s so nicely supported.
“The outcomes had been irritating, so there have been combined emotions, however it’s such an honour to put on the shirt and play for Wales. It’s all the time nice and to get that chance once more was unbelievable.”
He continued: “Successful and dropping develop into habits. The extra it doesn’t occur, the extra the win doesn’t come, an even bigger factor it turns into mentally.
“However I can see it turning spherical fairly quickly. There’s an excessive amount of high quality in Wales for it to not be the case.
“There’s a lot younger expertise right here. It’s nearly stringing an 80 minute efficiency collectively and getting the monkey off the again by way of a win.”
As for his future worldwide ambitions, he says: “I’m not somebody who’s ever going to rule themselves out of being chosen.
“I’ll preserve prioritising the Scarlets, making an attempt to play nicely and provides them what they want, particularly that set-piece stability and a little bit of management.
“If Wales nonetheless need somebody like me, then I’m more than pleased to be there and I wouldn’t hesitate for positive.”
Another person who could be very glad is Thomas’ father Nigel, via whom he qualifies to put on the crimson jersey.
“My dad is a correct Welshman and he all the time tried to push me via the Welsh system,” he says.
“I did some trials on the Dragons after I was 14, 15, via the London Exiles programme.
“However then, after I was away in school at Millfield, it didn’t actually make sense and my dad reluctantly resigned himself to the very fact I used to be throughout the English system and got here and supported me regardless.
“He bit his tongue via an England-Wales sport at Twickenham again in 2014.”
However then, in the summertime of 2023, a brand new chapter started as Thomas was known as up by Warren Gatland forward of the World Cup.
As destiny would have it, his Wales debut was to come back towards England in a warm-up match on the Principality Stadium. Becoming a member of the fray as a alternative, he shared in a 20-9 victory.
“I may see how a lot it meant to my dad, me enjoying for Wales, slightly than England.
“He might not admit it, however you possibly can see it on his face. He’s there dwelling and away.”
