Want to know more about young Ospreys prospect, Josh Thomas? Here's a quick Q&A to get to know him.
Q&A with Josh Thomas
“I started by playing for Swansea schoolboys and came up through the ranks there and then I got lucky and was picked for the Ospreys U16s and went through the system. Then, I was offered a contract and played A-league rugby for the Ospreys and played for Swansea RFC and now I have just come through with the seniors this season. Also played for Wales U18 and U20s and it’s been a really good experience and I just want to push on now with the Ospreys senior side.”
“I knew with new coaches coming in, with Toby and Brock James, that there would be an opportunity and a fresh start for the region and an opportunity to impress with a clean slate for all the players. So we all knew it was a chance to show what we could do, put the work in and impress in training and all of us tried to do that in pre-season. Toby has always said if you train hard and show that in training, he will pick you and he has been as good as his word on that. I have been lucky enough to get a few opportunities and that’s because I have just made sure that, I work hard in training and just put the work in really. If you do that, you know you have a really good chance of getting picked for the first team.“
It has been hard, especially the physicality and it’s a much quicker game. Leinster was the one when I realized I was playing at a really high level. It’s a challenge but was really enjoyable and I just want to keep learning and improving. Rhys Ruddock was a tough one for me, but I did learn a lot and enjoyed the challenge. I just tried to go low when I tackled him and make sure he didn’t really get going.
It’s just all about soaking everything up and putting my best foot forward this season. I just want more of it now.”
“I have three big names – James Hook, Brock James and Stephen Myler – to learn from and watch. All three of them have been there and done it and done it on the big stage. They have all the knowledge about the role and just to be around them and listen to them is great for me. I’m just learning the whole time at the moment, picking their brains and trying to improve my game. It’s just really exciting to have players and coaches like that, who play my position, to watch and listen to. It’s the same with training with a player like Rhys Webb, he has done it all in the game, with Wales and the Lions, and it’s exactly the same. It’s about watching and picking things up from them all and using it to benefit my game and to help the team.”
“I just want to push myself forward for selection, hopefully get a run of games and get as much game time as I can under my belt. We do a lot of team culture stuff under Toby and that has made us a really close group and we all know each other and get on with each other. I just know I have to take my opportunity and be as vocal as possible and show what I can do when it comes.”