Bristol Bears prop Nicky Thomas is in the “last chance saloon” and needs a change in attitude after signing a deal with Ospreys for next season, according to his former coach.
Thomas, aged 25, has had a stop-start career, failing to fully realise the talent he showed as a youngster, but he hopes a move back to his native Wales next season brings some consistency on the pitch.
The former under-20 international was once described as a "rough diamond and probably as good a scrummaging tighthead prop as there is in Wales" by former coach Bernard Jackman, who signed him on loan for Newport Gwent Dragons in 2017.
Tighthead Thomas, measuring 6ft 3ins and weighing in at 18st 12lb, has showed some promise at Ashton Gate, with the Gallagher Premiership side able to get him into shape, but he will leave Bears on June 30.
With front-rower heading back across the Severn Bridge to Ospreys for the 2020/21 season, his former coach believes time is running out for Thomas to make his mark in the game.
Jackman told The Rugby Paper: "The Ospreys is probably the last chance saloon for Nicky.
"We have all given him so many chances to fulfil his potential.
"I took a punt on him being a late developer, a bit like Adam Jones.
"It's hard to find tighthead props who love scrummaging.
"But the game has moved on a bit, and you have to have good movement to be a top class No.3. Just look at Kyle Sinckler and John Afoa.
"Nicky has always struggled with his weight, his eating and his speed of movement.
"He managed to get his weight under control at Bristol and now he really needs to knuckle down and be hard on himself.
"I would love to see him make it at the Ospreys and prove all his doubters wrong.
"It might need a slight change in his attitude, but all the component parts are in him to become a very good player."
