Freddie Thomas Says Wales Snub Has Given Him a Point to Prove
Gloucester lock Freddie Thomas says being left out of Wales' Nations Championship squad has given him extra motivation and energy, and a point to prove.
The 24-year-old was omitted from the squad picked by head coach Steve Tandy. Thomas has nine Wales caps, a cap being an official appearance for the national team. He switched his allegiance from England to Wales in 2024, and he came through the Gloucester Academy before breaking into the first team.
A lock is one of the tallest forwards in a rugby team. Locks usually win the ball at lineouts, the throw-ins that restart play after the ball goes into touch, and they do much of the heavy work in the scrum and in the tackle. Thomas has been used at lock and in the back row, the loose forwards who are quicker around the pitch. He said that splitting his time between those two jobs may be counting against him in Wales selection. He based that view on conversations with Welsh coaches.
Tandy has spoken to him directly, Thomas said. The head coach called to explain the decision and to set out what he needs to work on. Thomas did not say what those areas were.
Three of his Gloucester team-mates did make the cut. Max Llewellyn, Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan were all included in Wales' squad for the Nations Championship, the annual autumn series of international matches between the sport's top northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere teams.
Gloucester are in good shape at club level. They are five points clear of fourth-placed Northampton in the Premiership, England's top club competition, and they hold a points difference of +80 after four games. Points difference is the gap between the points a team scores and the points it concedes, and it is often used to separate sides level on the table. Earlier in the season, Thomas scored a try in Gloucester's win over Bath, a result that put them top of the table.
Next up, Gloucester travel to reigning champions Northampton on Saturday. The match at Franklin's Gardens kicks off at 17:30 GMT. Thomas will be looking to make the most of that stage while the Wales coaches weigh up their options. Gloucester have a clear chance to build their lead, and Thomas has a clear message for anyone watching his form.
