Gareth Thomas of Toulouse was yesterday named as captain of Wales for the next two years. He has been chosen ahead of Colin Charvis for the role, with the coach Mike Ruddock insisting the strong-running back is "the best man for the job" despite now playing his club rugby in the south of France.
"He is the first name on the team sheet, has proven tactical ability, extensive experience as a captain at club and regional level and he has also led the side at international level before," said Ruddock, who hopes the 30-year-old, who captained Wales in a World Cup warm-up against Ireland in 2003 and, with 34, is his country's record try-scorer in Tests, will lead the side until at least 2005.
"He is a mature and complete player, and someone who has the full respect of the management team, his peers and the international rugby public." There is clearly no doubting Thomas as far as Ruddock is concerned.
Charvis, meanwhile, will be Thomas's vice-captain when Wales kick off against South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on November 6, with Ruddock keen for the flanker to concentrate primarily on his own game. It seems a reasonable call and it must also increase the likelihood of Wales employing their dangerous backs at every opportunity this season.
Thomas, who was born in Bridgend, is back across the Channel preparing for Toulouse's French Championship game against Brive this weekend and sounded suitably delighted.
"I hope I can repay the faith that Mike and the management team have in me," he said. "I am over the moon, absolutely thrilled to bits. It has always been my ambition to be captain of Wales over a sustained period of time. I believe we've got an incredibly strong squad and now it's time to get down to business, starting with South Africa."
Now established at full-back after winning 56 caps on the wing and 14 in the centre, Thomas will gain his 78th cap in Cardiff.
Yesterday brought bad news for another prolific Test try-scorer when Northampton dropped their England wing Ben Cohen for Saturday's Zurich Premiership game against Wasps.
Cohen's place has gone to the South African Wylie Human and the Saints coach Alan Solomons made no apologies. "Ben has struggled a bit for form over the last two games," he said. "He agrees that in these particular circumstances he should drop down to the bench."
"Players suffer slumps in all sports, such as Tiger Woods and Serena Williams - it is just the nature of the beast. He is determined to put matters right.
"Ben has shown in the past he is a strong player and I have no doubt he will come out of this slump." With England's autumn Tests six weeks away, however, Cohen does not have time on his side.
Bath, seeking to strengthen their squad before this Friday's registration deadline for the Heineken Cup, have signed the former Wales flanker Geraint Lewis from Rotherham.
