Prop Gareth Thomas is leveraging the expertise of Welsh rugby legends Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins as Wales gears up for their upcoming Test series in Japan. The team, which has faced a challenging streak of 17 consecutive Test defeats, is eager to secure their first victory since the 2023 World Cup.

Learning from the Best

Interim coach Matt Sherratt has integrated Jenkins into the coaching staff as a defense coach. Jenkins, a former loose-head prop with 129 caps, is celebrated as one of Wales' finest players. His reunion with Adam Jones, who oversees the scrum, brings a wealth of experience to the team.

"We had 'Bomb' [Jones] in the Six Nations and he's been class for us," Thomas remarked. "He's awesome for the front-rowers, he's bringing scrum time and is just a great bloke to have around as well. Gethin is one of the best loose-heads who's played for Wales, so it's great for the boys to work with him and use his mindset stuff."

A Desperate Need for Victory

Wales will face Eddie Jones' Japan in a two-match series, with the first Test in Kitakyushu on July 5 and the second in Kobe on July 12. Thomas, who made his Wales debut in 2021, draws parallels to the 2022 tour of South Africa, where Wales managed a historic win on South African soil.

"The last summer tour we had with this kind of block was South Africa, four or five weeks together before we went," Thomas explained. "We don't have that opportunity in the autumn and Six Nations to have this time together. So this time has been really good for us."

Confronting the Elements

The extreme heat and humidity in Japan pose significant challenges, with both matches scheduled for mid-afternoon. Wales has prepared with intense heat chamber sessions at their training base in the Vale of Glamorgan.

"You go to the well, but I love it – the whole squad in there," Thomas said. "The most I have lost is three kilos of fluid and we have to make sure we replace that, because otherwise we would be dehydrated and struggling. It's good to see how hard the boys are working because it's going to be tough out there."

As Wales aims to end their losing streak, the combination of experienced coaching and rigorous preparation could be the key to turning their fortunes around in Japan.