"It's completely different to last year"- Thomas on Wales' Autumn squad

Wednesday, 29 October 2025 at 20:45

byHarry Tovey

Despite the ongoing issues off the field for Wales, lock Freddie Thomas reveals that, compared to last year, this Wales squad is different under new head coach Steve Tandy.

The 23-year-old made his Wales debut against South Africa last Autumn, and despite the torrid run which the national side has been on, Thomas remains optimistic ahead of the Quilter Nations Series.

concluded Thomas.

“It has been good, really good,” began Thomas.

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“I obviously only had experience of last year, so we can only really go on that, but compared to last year, it’s been really positive.

“I feel there’s a real energy around the group. I feel like in training, the quality has been better.

“The boys are speaking at meetings, being more confident, everyone seems to have a general buy-in to try and get this group as far as they can get. So it’s been really positive.

“I feel like it’s completely different to last year and just the way we train and what days we train.

“By tweaking most of the things, it kind of gives it a new feel, like a full stop to our last era, putting that all behind us and really moving forward to kind of keep building as a team and make strides forward.”

Wales ended their 18-match losing streak against Japan in Kobe this summer, but a difficult Autumn lies ahead, including Tests against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa.

“It was massive (to put aside Japan in the summer),” added Thomas.

“I think we were in a dark spot. I think, especially going to Japan, knowing potentially the quality of them, we had to go there and get a win.

“We didn’t shy away from that. Our whole ambition of that tour was to get a win. It wasn’t just to build, it was to get a win and put an end to that for a period of time.

“And then we could start building into the next period, so it was massive. I think everyone was just relieved. In the changing room afterwards, everyone was relieved. It was done.

“The weight of the pressure was building. So it was nice to just kind of clean that slate and put that behind us.”

Thomas has played at lock and in the back row for Gloucester Rugby so far this season in this year’s Gallagher Prem, and could possibly have an opportunity this Autumn to show his worth as a hybrid member of Tandy’s squad.

“I generally don’t really care. I just want to play,” he added.

“Obviously, I play a bit of both at Gloucester. I’d like to see myself as more of a lock that can play six, rather than a six that can play lock.

“So, whatever gets me in the squad, I’ll happily play. I kind of feel that around the park, my game doesn’t change.

“I try and play the same way. It’s probably just around the set piece. When I’m in the second row, I have more emphasis on the lineout and maul.

“I want more super strength and to use all my energy in that area. When I’m in the back row, it’s probably more around the park, trying to be more effective.

“But I always try and play the same way. And if I’m in the second row, I can try and play that same way and get around the park.

“We’re all willing to do the same things. So whenever we’re trying to work on stuff, it’s always good to have boys who are in the same headspace as you.

“It definitely helps,”