Wales centurion Gareth Thomas has backed Josh Hathaway to stake a claim for a starting spot in Warren Gatland’s team this summer.

Hathaway was one of six uncapped players called into the New Zealander’s squad ahead of summer Tests against South Africa and Australia.

Following Louis Rees-Zammit’s departure from rugby union for the NFL, 20-year-old Hathaway is hoping to establish himself as Wales’ next wing supremo.

Awarded his own opportunities at Gloucester Rugby following Rees-Zammit’s exit ahead of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Hathaway finished the season with five Gallagher Premiership Rugby tries.

Swapping his allegiance back to the country of his birth after representing England U20, 100-cap Thomas believes that the youngster has the ability to make a lasting impression.

“Since Rees-Zammit has gone, that spot hasn’t been filled,” Thomas said.

“The great thing about when you are relatively unknown, you have opportunities to do things and showcase your talent - that you don’t get when teams are very aware of what you are capable of.

“He has played for Gloucester, but because he has come under the radar, internationally teams won’t be aware of him.

“It gives him a great opportunity to showcase the talent he does have.

“The question is if he uses this opportunity to stake a claim to keep that jersey, rather than just having it until someone else comes along that we give a try to.”

Thomas’ comments came after completing the Royal Windsor Triathlon for his charity, Tackle HIV.

(Image: Tackle HIV via Sportsbeat)

The Bridgend-born 49-year-old took on the Olympic distance event alongside Olympian Perri Shakes-Drayton and broadcaster Jenni Falconer.

Also joined by fellow HIV campaigner Becky Mitchell, who received an MBE in 2020 for her services to HIV awareness, and a number of other people living with the virus.

Completing the triathlon is the latest achievement for Thomas, who has campaigned tirelessly to tackle the stigma of HIV since disclosing his status in 2019.

“It was important for us to do this because we have got to a place now where we want to take the message around HIV and the realisation that it doesn’t limit what you are capable of physically to mentally,” Thomas said.

“We want to take that to the public rather than waiting for the public to come to us.

“We have done many events and that experience here today with the other participants in the triathlon and the crowd, they are very supportive because they understand what it takes and the commitment it takes to compete in one of these.

“For me, running through there were people shouting support, shouting to support the campaign and you realise that if we hadn’t been here today, this message would never have been delivered to thousands and thousands of people.

“It was really important that we came here, and I was, like always, a little bit anxious beforehand, but now we look back on it, we can see it as a success.”

Gareth Thomas and six Tackle HIV relay teams are undertaking the Royal Windsor Triathlon to demonstrate that living with HIV need not be a barrier to achieving anything, and to raise funds for Terrence Higgins Trust. Tackle HIV is a campaign led by Gareth Thomas in partnership with ViiV Healthcare and Terrence Higgins Trust and aims to tackle the stigma and misunderstanding around HIV. For more information visit tacklehiv.org and follow @tacklehiv.