Good Start For Ruddock

New Wales coach Mike Ruddock began his reign in the best possible way when his side defeated the Barbarians in Bristol yesterday evening scoring 42 points without reply.

However, it was a victory that carried a high price tag with full-back Gareth Thomas stretchered off midway through the second half with what appeared to be an ankle ligament injury.

Record international try-scorer Thomas, must now be considered very doubtful for the Wales tour to Argentina and South
Africa next
month.

Nor will his new French club, Toulouse be overjoyed with the news of the injury. Thomas is due to formally sign for the beaten Heinken Cup finalists today (Thursday) in a two-year deal believed to be worth in the region of 300,000 per annum.

Wales ran in seven tries – one for Thomas before he was injured – with Rhys Williams, Dwayne Peel, Gavin Henson,
Hal
Luscombe and Ceri Sweeney all touching-down while fly-half Sweeney added a further 12
points
from the boot.

Wales began the match without many of their frontline players with Iestyn Harris, Stephen Jones,
Gareth
Cooper and Robin McBryde among more than a dozen players sidelined
through
injury.