Thomas hopes for more with Wales after debut

Freddie Thomas came on for his Wales debut against South Africa last weekend

Gloucester lock Freddie Thomas said he is hoping to get another chance to play for Wales at the Six Nations after making his "surreal" debut during the Autumn Nation Series.

The 23-year-old came on as a second-half replacement during the defeat by world champions South Africa on Saturday.

Thomas had said he was "surprised" to be called-up to Warren Gatland's 35-man squad.

"Hopefully if I keep putting performances together I'll get another chance at the Six Nations but at the moment I'm just focussing on playing well for Gloucester," Thomas told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

Thomas came through Gloucester's academy and played for England as an under-18 and under-20 but qualifies for Wales through his grandparents on his father's side.

Playing for Wales was always an ambition in the back of his mind, he said previously, and he made his intentions clear at the end of last year.

Still, the feeling of being tapped onto the shoulder by the coaches with 35 minutes to play and told he was going onto the pitch was one he did not expect.

"Looking up on the screen and seeing my face there, hearing the announcement of my name, on for debut, my cap number, it was surreal, it's what you dream of as a kid," Thomas said.

"Growing up I expected it to stay a dream and not become reality, to be able to live that dream out was a special day."

Thomas said he was "emotional" standing on the field of the Principality Stadium during the national anthems and that the game was as "big as a moment" for a family as it was for him.

"Just being able to go after the game to see my parents, see my girlfriend, see all my extended family on my dad's side which is all the Welsh side of the family, see them hug them, thank them, for supporting me the whole way through my career," Thomas said.

Thomas was one of four Cherry and Whites players in the Wales squad, and said it was comforting having familiar faces in Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe and Josh Hathaway around the camp.

"That was helpful especially for that week with Tomos and Gareth kind of being leaders here and also leaders there," Thomas said.

"If I ever needed to ask a question about knowledge, detail anything like that they were the ones I went to."

The camp also provided a big learning experience for the young lock, who has made 48 appearances for Gloucester since his debut in 2020, particularly when it came to bedding in alongside Wales' other back row players.

"Adam Beard, he's got about 50, 60 caps and he was really helpful with me, took me under his wing straight away," Thomas said.

"Will Rowlands as well, those second row boys have been around the block quite a long time and know what they're doing and they were really helpful with me, line-out wise and a around the pitch and helping me settle in."