Thomas insists he will play rugby again despite fears

Six Nations News: Wales captain Gareth Thomas insists he is "100 per cent certain" to play rugby again despite suffering a mini stroke just four weeks ago.

Thomas, 31, collapsed due to the stress of an appearance on the BBC's Scrum V programme - on which he denied head coach Mike Ruddock had been ousted by player power - and was later diagnosed with a ruptured artery in his neck.

An interview in French newspaper L'Equipe this week quoted Thomas as being "very frightened" about the idea of playing again and that he will retire if his family "cannot deal with the anguish" of watching him take the field.

But Thomas was at the Millennium Stadium yesterday to watch the Wales squad go through their final paces before tackling France - and he vowed to be back among them again next season.

"I am going to play again. The doctors have given myself and my family confidence I can play again fully," said Thomas.

"At the end of the season, if things go well, or next season I am 100 per cent certain I will play rugby again.

"Things must have been lost in translation because I was asked about what I felt when it all happened and when I was lying on the hospital bed. But since then things have progressed.

"My concern was that my family are okay with me playing. They have met the doctor with me and they realise rugby is as much a part of me as anything else. They know I want to get back playing and they support me.

"They will be behind me 100 per cent when I play because the doctor has given me the confidence I will be fine."

Thomas returns to Toulouse on Tuesday a frustrated man after the difficulties he and Wales have had to endure during the last two months of Six Nations action.

It has been an intense period and Thomas is just looking forward to recuperating in the south of France.

"I go back on Tuesday and I am looking forward to going back to catch up with my mates and get away from everything that is going on here," said Thomas.