New boy Thomas loving life on Tyneside
The 22-year-old was a summer arrival from Ospreys, with the former Wales Under-20s international saying: “It’s been really good so far.
“I’ve been excited to get into it, we’ve had a tough few weeks but I’ve learned a lot during that time.
“I’ve worked closely with Brett Connon and Tian Schoeman as fly-halves and gained a lot from that, as well as guys like Mark Laycock and Dave Walder on the coaching team.
“I’ve really enjoyed the block as a whole, even though I missed the first couple of days after testing positive for Covid. That’s thankfully behind me now and I’ve had a good few weeks up here with the boys.”
Currently back home enjoying a rest week, Thomas added: “It’s been a good mix in training, and it’s certainly not been the stereotypical view of pre-season where the boys just get flogged.
“We’ve obviously put a lot of work in on the strength and conditioning side, but it’s been done in a way where rugby has been incorporated into it as well as loads of different kinds of movements and skills.
“It’s a pretty short pre-season this year so you need to get into your rugby training early doors, and that’s exactly what we’ve done. We’ve also had a few off-site sessions which have been good, seeing a bit of the North East, and it all just keeps you interested when you have that variety.”
Chomping at the bit for the start of the campaign to come around, the prospect of playing in England’s top flight has the new recruit brimming with enthusiasm.
“I’m excited about the prospect of coming and playing in the Premiership, as I said at the time when I first signed,” he said.
“As well as that I think it will be a really good fit with the style of attack that the Falcons have, and the pace they’re able to play at on this pitch. That’s the main reason I’ve come here, and because I feel like it’s a place where I can keep improving.”
Asked how he was settling into life on Tyneside, Thomas joked: “I’ve been struggling a bit with understanding some of the proper Geordie lads, but I’m sure that will improve the longer I’m up here!
“I find myself having to ask a few of the boys to repeat themselves sometimes, but the lads have all been great with me and I’m really enjoying my time here so far.
“We’ve got a rest week now, which is great after a hard opening block, but we’ve got a couple of things to be working on while we’re away to make sure we’re ready for the rise in intensity when we come back in next week.
“We’ll have two big weeks of training going into that Leicester game on August 26, then Doncaster away the Friday after, and then we’re straight into the Premiership stuff.
“It’s exciting to be involved with and I can’t wait to hopefully get stuck into the games.”
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