There are a number of things worth knowing about surprise Wales World Cup training squad call-up Henry Thomas.
One, he made his debut in the English Premiership a day after he turned 19.
Two, he was once feted in the press as “the most formidable young player in England”.
Three, he plays tighthead prop, a position where not many rise so high so quickly.
Four, he has played for England seven times.
Finally, he qualifies for Wales via his father Nigel, who hails from Swansea, and has been included in Warren Gatland’s 54-strong preliminary lineup for the global-tournament in France this autumn, with Thomas eligible under the World Rugby rule change that allows players to switch allegiances if they were born in the country they want to represent or have a parent or grandparent born there. There’s a further specification that such players can switch only after a three-year stand-down period from international rugby.
Thomas hasn't played for England since 2014.
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It is fair to say not many saw his Wales selection coming.
The aforementioned plaudits that came his way were at the outset of his career. Not many teenage tightheads can hold their own in lower-league rugby; those who can hack it in a professional set-up in one of Europe’s most attritional set-ups are borderline Penny Black types.
Playing for Sale, Thomas quickly gained a reputation for being dynamic with ball in hand and strong in defence. He was also said to be an improving force in the scrums.
Kingsley Jones, Sale's director of rugby at the time, was aware of the then young front-rower's Welsh qualifications and used to make a habit of putting three fingers across his left side of his chest, representing the Welsh feathers, whenever he saw Thomas on the training ground.
Injuries did punctuate Thomas' progress, but his England caps included one against Wales in 2014 when he figured off the bench in a 29-18 home win at Twickenham.
A move to Montpellier followed seven seasons at Bath, with Thomas playing 18 games last season as they won the Top 14 title.
Now he’s 31, with an impressive CV which also reveals that the 6ft 1in, 18st 13lb front rower attended Millfield School. A keen cricketer, he is once said to have flogged the bowling for his alma mater at Lord’s. He later studied for an MBA in business administration and management at Bath University and his Linkedin page suggests he can part-speak Japanese. The probability is he's added French to his linguistic armoury, having spent a couple of years out in Montpellier.
Gatland wants to assess him as he tries to add to Wales’ front-row depth.
“He’s been at Montpellier and was involved with them winning the league,” said Wales’ head coach. “We’ve spoken to him years ago.
“He probably brings something different.
“The big focus for us is on the tight-five. We need that athleticism and mobility that we need to improve.”
How did the new man qualify? “Through his father,” continued Gatland. “Jonathan Humphreys reached out and checked if he was available. He was at Sale, then Bath and now he’s at Montpellier.
“We realised he was available and he’ll give us competition. When he’s actually available for us in terms of finishing with Montpellier, we’ll keep an eye on.
"He's got experience last year of winning Top 14. I've seen him saying how much he enjoyed that and winning silverware, which was big and having that confidence.
"You've got to be pretty tough to play up front in France given how big some of the forwards are there. You've got to bring a physical element and be strong at the set-piece. He has also got some good ball-carrying ability and is pretty mobile getting around the park."
A more than interesting call, then.
How Thomas shapes up will be intriguing.
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