‘Unfinished business’ for Nicky at Ospreys
OSPREYS are to have another go at tapping the potential of former Wales U20s prop Nicky Thomas.
They have signed him from Bristol Bears on a two-year deal, five years after he left the region.
It has to be a case of now or never for the 25-year-old tighthead.
When he featured for Wales U20s at the Junior World Championship in 2013, helping them to the final, he looked a senior international in the making with his powerful and disruptive scrummaging.
But there have been questions over Thomas’ fitness for senior rugby and he has had difficulty kicking on after such a stellar under-20s career, which saw him win 20 caps.
There is still time, but he will need to take this chance. If the 6ft 3in, 18st 8lb No.3 does do that and seriously applies himself, the Ospreys may have a decent signing on their hands.
Thomas certainly said the right things after agreeing to head back to the Liberty, with the Swanseaborn player commenting: “There is unfinished business for me with the Ospreys.
“It feels like a new era, a new chapter for the Ospreys, it is an exciting time to be returning home, and this is something I really wanted to do, play for the Ospreys.
“It’s like there is a line in the sand has been drawn, with a new head coach, Toby Booth, and Mike Ruddock being involved. I know it has been a tough season there, but for me this is just an exciting challenge.”
His return means the Ospreys will be able to reunite a front row who played together for Pentrehafod Comprehensive School, Waunarlwydd RFC and Swansea RFC.
Thomas, Scott Otten and Nicky Smith featured as a unit in all those teams.
Since then, Smith has gone on to win senior international honours, while Otten has been bang in form for the Ospreys.
“I am a Swansea boy, born and bred, and the Ospreys are my region,” said Thomas.
“I used to watch them when I was younger with Nicky and Scott, and we used to argue about who was better, Adam or Duncan Jones. Nicky would always argue for Duncan, as a loosehead, and I would argue for Adam, as a tighthead.
“The three of us grew up watching the Ospreys and I know this would be a big thing for all of our families if myself, Nicky and Scott played as a starting front row for the Ospreys.
“We played in school together, we played for Waunarlwydd together and we went through the Ospreys academy pathway together. We grew up together and are best mates.
“The only difference is that they went down the Swansea College route and I went down the Hartpury College route, but to get the chance to play alongside each other again is great.”
Since leaving the Ospreys in 2015, Thomas has played for Gloucester, the Scarlets, the Dragons and Bristol.
Thomas becomes the Ospreys third signing for next season, with Mat Protheroe also linking up from Bristol and Rhys Webb returning to the region.