Harry Thomas was a very happy hooker during the U20 Six Nations championship as he plundered four tries as Wales went on to finish in third place.
But the rising Scarlets starlet is setting his sights even higher this summer as he aims to take Wales in the final four at the World Rugby U20 championships in Italy.
Thomas formed a superb front row with Ioan Emanuel and Sam Scott throughout the Six Nations and head coach Richard Whiffin will be hoping for more of the same from them when Wales launch their campaign against Argentina in Verona.
“It was a good end to the Six Nations campaign with the win over England and we took a lot of confidence from that. We had a tough game against England in Pontypool, which left us frustrated, but the win over Italy in our final warm-up match has raised the mood in the camp,” said Thomas.
“We went into the Six Nations game against England as the underdogs, so to win that game in front of a big crowd in Cardiff was very special. We’re buzzing, excited and can’t wait to get out there in Italy.
“We’re going there to win it, and we feel we have the right amount of talent. We’ve proved we can beat anyone and we should feel confident about getting into the top four.
“Then it is a case of seeing where we can go from there. We haven’t hit our ceiling or full potential as yet and we’re hoping to fully gel out here in Italy.”
While he is very much focussed on getting Wales into the top tier at his second World Rugby U20 championship, Thomas is hoping to use his Italian job as a springboard for his senior career back at the Scarlets.
An ankle injury hindered his chances of achieving his lifelong dream of playing for his hometown team in the first half of last season. He was taken to South Africa with the squad for the final few BKT United Rugby Championship matches, but is yet to pull on the senior Scarlets shirt in anger.
Coming from a diehard family of Scarlets fans, himself included, Thomas can’t wait for his opportunity to show what he can do.
“I’d love to get some minutes in a Scarlets jersey moving forward. I’ve been a fan since I was six and my granddad travels all over the place to follow them,” said Thomas.
“If the team loses now I am gutted as a player, but even more so as a fan. I travelled to Durban and Johannesburg with the squad at the end of the season and that was a mental moment for me being a Llanelli boy.
“It has been my dream since I was about six to play for the Scarlets. It would be the biggest wish of both my granddad and father to see me playing for the Scarlets.
“They weren’t able to come out and watch me play for Wales at last year’s U20 World Championships in South Africa, but they are both coming to Italy.
“I didn’t get as many minutes as I wanted last year and I was also ill out there, so I didn’t really enjoy it. But being a starter throughout the Six Nations has given me confidence for this tournament.
“We underachieved last year given the team we had. Now we have to get that first win over Argentina and build from there.”
Thomas has been named in the starting XV to face Argentina on Sunday, with Ioan Emanuel and Scott continuing alongside him in the front row.
Kenzie Jenkins and Nick Thomas form the second row while Deian Gwynne is joined by Dragons duo Harry Beddall and Evan Minto in the back row.
Sion Davies and Harri Ford operate at half-back for Wales while Aidan Boshoff and Elijah Evans of Bristol Bears and Cardiff Rugby respectively will start on the wings.
Centres Steffan Emanuel and Osian Roberts join full-back Jack Woods in the starting line-up for Whiffin's men.
Wales XV to face Argentina: 15 Jack Woods, 14 Elijah Evans, 13 Osian Roberts, 12 Steffan Emanuel, 11 Aidan Boshoff, 10 Harri Ford, 9 Sion Davies; 1 Ioan Emanuel, 2 Harry Thomas, 3 Sam Scott, 4 Kenzie Jenkins, 5 Nick Thomas, 6 Deian Gwynne, 7 Harry Beddall (capt), 8 Evan Minto.
Replacements: 16 Saul Hurley, 17 Louie Trevett, 18 Owain James, 19 Dan Gemine, 20 Caio James, 21 Ellis Lewis, 22 Harri Wilde, 23 Tom Bowen.
READ MORE: Wales U20s Will Head To Italy With Renewed Hope After Impressive Win
