Thomas believes Wales players will push for World Cup spots this Autumn

Gareth Thomas believes Wales' upcoming Autumn Nations Series matches will provide the perfect opportunity for players to push for a place in next year's World Cup squad. It is now less than a year until the World Cup begins in France, and the upcoming Autumn matches will be the last time that Wales face sides such as New Zealand and Australia before the showpiece event.

Ad Rugby legend Thomas, a veteran of four World Cups, believes now is the time for players to start impressing Welsh coach Wayne Pivac before next September and October. RugbyThomas praises Wales after 'perfect' start to World CupA DAY AGO «Post every tournament we start talking about the World Cup, maybe three years out.

We're literally now in pre-World Cup preparation when it comes to real big match experience and playing against the best teams in the world,» said Thomas, speaking during The Tackle HIV Myth Bus Tour which launched at the Cardiff Half Marathon on October 2 and is visiting Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow and London to offer educational information on HIV as well as encouraging and offering testing advice, information and test kits to the public. «We've got so many great youngsters that are probably still quite new to the cauldron that is the Principality Stadium in Wales — because of Covid and a lot of players finding their feet — wanting to play in full stadiums against the likes of New Zealand and Australia.

»All of the other teams competing well and playing so well has made it a really interesting time, especially approaching a World Cup year. There's places to be played for, so I just feel it's going to be a really interesting, good tournament as to realising the real magnitude between the north and south." Test series in the southern