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Henry Thomas on the verge of Wales return – report

Henry Thomas of Wales celebrates after winning the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Wales and Australia at Parc Olympique on September 24, 2023 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

Castres tighthead prop Henry Thomas is set to sign for the Scarlets, according to WalesOnline.

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The 32-year-old has been representing Castres for the latter half of this season having joined from Top 14 rivals Montpellier in January, but will reportedly make the move to the United Rugby Championship at the end of the season.

The Wales prop was eligible to play international rugby while at Montpellier, as he was uncapped when he joined the club, but his move to Castres rendered him ineligible to play Test rugby. However, this potential move back to Wales will make him available to be selected by Warren Gatland again.

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Thomas made his Wales debut last August, nine years after the last of his seven caps for England. He went on to make Wales’ World Cup squad, playing in two matches in France, before missing out on the group for the Guinness Six Nations, with his move to Castres being announced just hours after failing to make the cut for Wales.

Wales’ lack of front-row depth was brutally exposed at times during the Championship though, meaning Thomas would surely be in with a shout of making a return should the move to Scarlets come to fruition.

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United Rugby Championship
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18 - 32
Full-time
Scarlets
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Thomas would be the second prop to agree to move to Parc y Scarlets should he sign, with Scotland and Exeter Chiefs loosehead Alec Hepburn already signed up to join Dwayne Peel’s side.

There are significant front-row outgoings at the club too, with Wyn Jones, Joe Jones and Steff Thomas all leaving at the end of the season, on top of Samson Lee’s retirement midway through the season.

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SK 10 hours ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Set pieces are important and the way teams use them is a great indication of how they play the game. No team is showcasing their revolution more than the Springboks. This year they have mauled less and primarily in the attacking third. Otherwise they have tended to set like they are going to maul and then play around the corner or shove the ball out the back. They arent also hitting the crash ball carrier constantly but instead they are choosing to use their width or a big carrying forward in wider areas. While their maul is varied the scrum is still a blunt instrument winning penalties before the backs have a go. Some teams have chosen to blunt their set piece game for more control. The All Blacks are kicking more penalties and are using their powerful scrum as an attacking tool choosing that set piece as an attacking weapon. Their willingness to maul more and in different positions is also becoming more prominent. The French continue to play conservative rugby off the set piece using their big bruisers frequently. The set piece is used differently by different teams. Different teams play different ways and can be successful regardless. They can win games with little territory and possession or smash teams with plenty of both. The game of rugby is for all types and sizes and thats true in the modern era. I hope that administrators keep it that way and dont go further towards a Rugby League style situation. Some administrators are of the opinion that rugby is too slow and needs to be sped up. Why not rather empower teams to choose how they want to play and create a framework that favours neither size nor agility. That favours neither slow tempo play or rock n roll rugby. Create a game that favour both and challenge teams to execute their plans. If World Rugby can create a game like that then it will be the ultimate winner.

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