LONDON, Ont. - The Western Mustangs are pleased to intoduce Steve Thomas as the new head coach of the men's rugby program.

Thomas, who served as an assistant with Tony Roes for the past two seasons, has a detailed rugby resume as a player, coach and official.

"Steve Thomas brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the position of head coach of the Mustangs men's rugby program," said Therese Quigley, Director of Sports and Recreation Services at Western. "His network within the game, his involvement as a player, coach and official, and his role as a mentor for the student-athletes and coaching staff will serve us well for years to come."   

Coming from a Welsh family, Thomas developed a passion for the game at an early age and said he is very excited about the opportunity.

"The program really needs continuity," Thomas said. "We just need to up our game a little bit and look at the way we play and improve."

By instilling a strong work ethic in his team and players, Thomas has a simple philosophy about ethic and commitment that he will bring to the program.

"The only place success comes before work is from the dictionary, and that's how it is," Thomas said. "The beauty about it is that there's some real talent in the area and in the school."

Thomas said in the short-term and off season, he will evaluate the strengths of returning players.

"I'll determine where the depth lies and try to fit those individuals into the way they want to play and the way I play," Thomas said. "At the end of the day, I think we are strong enough to dictate the way the game is played and we will play to our strengths and work on our weaknesses."

"Long-term, we need the continuation of good players coming through the system, those we lose, we need to focus on replacing them right away."

Thomas started playing rugby at the age of 8 and captained school and county teams, recommended to the Bath Rugby Club at 17 years of age.

He played club ball with Warminster, Frome, Lackham College and the School of Infantry in the southwest, Old Leamingtonians in the Midlands, Usk College, Abergwaun and Abergavenney in South Wales, and North Walsham located in East Anglia, a National League 3 club. 

Thomas, who is a sales representative with Elanco Animal Health covering the Southwestern Ontario area, has coached at the youth and senior level in Canada and overseas, and has his level 1 refereeing certification in the United Kingdom and level 2 in Canada. Presently, he referees for both Niagara society and the Michigan Rugby Union.

He has also coached in Goderich and Forest at the high school level, and the South West Wolfpack in London, Ont.

His passion for the sport is clear.

"I've had some fantastic years and met some really good people and made some great friends, even clashing heads with them on Saturday afternoons while playing," he said. "Rugby has made me a better person. It's more than a game and it's part of the life skills you learn through sport, you really develop them as young men on and off the field."