Having first signed for Swansea as a 16-year-old, the appointment marks something of a homecoming for Thomas, more than 23 years after first pulling on the famous Swansea white shirt at St Helens, where he made 188 appearances and scored 14 tries.
The 42-year-old also played 67 times for Wales and won Six Nations Grand Slams in 2005 and 2008, as well as playing in two World Cups.
He then joined Worcester in May 2013 but he retired from playing in 2015 on medical advice after being diagnosed with epilepsy.
Thomas began his coaching career with Bristol in charge of defence and the forwards, before becoming head coach of former English Premiership side Worcester, having initially been at Sixways as forwards coach.
He left the Warriors in January 2022 and joined Championship side Ealing Trailfinders as a forwards consultant in September that year, before joining the Wales set-up as contact area coach.
A delighted Thomas said:
“Swansea RFC has always been close to my heart.
“It was the club that gave me the opportunity and I’ll always be grateful. It’s a big part of who I am and my time with the club at the start of my career really helped shape me as a person and a player.
“Since I first signed for Swansea as a youngster 25 years ago, it’s been a relentless journey, always looking forward, and it’s only when I’ve taken the last six months out to recharge have I really been able to appreciate the journey I’ve been on.
“I’m really excited about taking up this role and helping this historic club move forward.It promises to be an exciting season.
“I looked at the team towards the end of last season and they certainly didn’t look like a team that should have been at the foot of the table.
“I need to get know the players I’m working with and find out more about their character and desire to improve. Yes, there’s plenty of work to do, starting straight away, but the foundations of a good side is there and it’ll be my responsibility to build on that. It’s exciting for the club and it’s exciting for me.
“Swansea is a big club with a proud history and I want to do that justice, while understanding our relationship with the Ospreys, where I know [head coach] Mark Jones really well and expect to work closely with him.”
Swansea managing director Keith Colclough added:
“This is a huge coup for Swansea RFC. JT is an ambitious, highly rated young coach who, after a fantastic playing career, already has significant coaching experience at the highest level of the game.
“As a club, we share his ambition and are excited about the 2025-26 Super Rygbi Cymru season and seeing how Jonathan can develop the team.
“Speaking to him, his passion and knowledge is obvious. As a proud former All White, he knows the club well, the expectations that come with the role, and he can’t wait to get stuck in to the challenges that lie ahead.”
Thomas will lead Swansea into Super Rygbi Cymru action in the forthcoming season, with the opening game of the campaign scheduled for Saturday 13th September, away to Pontypool.
[Lead image: Swansea RFC]
