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08:06 GMT, Friday, 16 May 2008 09:06 UK

Thomas set for coaching career

Arwel Thomas

Former Wales fly-half Arwel Thomas is hoping to take up a coaching role with Premiership champions Neath next term.

"When the offer came to go into coaching at the Gnoll next season, I didn't think twice," said Thomas.

"Our support has been absolutely fantastic, that's what it's all about now and why I wanted the role."

Thomas will play his 100th and final game for the Welsh all blacks in the Konica Minolta Cup final against Pontypridd, 15 years after his debut.

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Pay your tributes to Arwel Thomas
His colourful career took him to Swansea, the Ospreys, Bristol, Harlequins, the Scarlets and Pau.

Thomas played for Wales 23 times, scoring 216 points as he competed with Neil Jenkins for the red number 10 jersey in a classic battle of playmaker versus game controller.

"I made my debut for Neath and I will play my last game for the club, it could hardly be better," said the Trebanos Youth product.

"I've always played in a way that grabs the headlines. Obviously I made mistakes, many of which would have been punished, but I enjoy playing that way and trying to make things happen.

"Sometimes people remember my playing days for Wales for the wrong reasons, but I wouldn't swap the experience.

"Ok, so I might have got a bit tasty with Philippe Carbonneau [who he famously punched in a Wales v France game] or dropped the odd ball, but when I look back, I have fond memories.

"Anyway, what a lot of people don't know is that as far as Carbonneau was concerned, we ended up being training partners in the same team when I went to Pau.

"The boys all ribbed me about what happened, but the two of us became good friends and that is what rugby is all about."



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Related to this story:

Neath v Pontypridd (Sat) (15 May 08 |  Welsh )
Arwel stepping down to join Neath (16 Jun 05 |  Welsh )
Konica Minolta Cup 2007/8 (16 Feb 08 |  Welsh )
WRU Challenge Cup archive (12 Jul 06 |  Welsh )
Welsh Premiership websites (17 Aug 07 |  Scrum V Extras )
Other Welsh rugby club websites (20 Aug 07 |  Scrum V Extras )
BBC Sport Wales coverage (07 Aug 07 |  Wales )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Welsh Rugby Union
BBC Where I Live - Wales
Rugby union weather
Scrum V homepage
Millennium Stadium
Your say - 606
Welsh rugby webguide
Neath RFC
Pontypridd RFC
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