Gloucester lock Freddie Thomas says the disappointment of being overlooked by Wales has given him a point to prove.

The 24-year-old scored a try to help the Cherry and Whites to a fine win over Bath to set the early pace in the Prem ahead of a trip to reigning champions Northampton on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

Thomas says he will go into the game with “extra energy” after being left out of Steve Tandy’s Wales squad for the Nations Championship, which includes his Kingsholm team-mates Max Llewellyn, Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan.

Thomas told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: “It was really disappointing when I got the call. I get on well with (Tandy) so he was pretty clear with me, he called me up and let me know what kind of things I need to work on, which was good.

“It does obviously give me a bit of extra motivation because that’s where I want to be – that’s what I’m playing for.

“It’s given me some extra energy and maybe an extra lift that maybe I needed.”

Thomas – who has won nine caps since switching his allegiance from England in 2024 – said he is aiming for more consistency but also revealed he may be hamstrung by his versatility, mixing playing time between lock and the back row.

He said: “It’s something I find quite hard, trying to break through into that consistency in performance, I have still not locked it down yet.

“I have still got more to give every week. I am starting to build on those foundations and trying to get better every week and hopefully get back into that Welsh squad.

“I think it has helped me playing both second row and back row (though) having spoken with some of the Welsh coaches it may potentially be hindering me, making me a question mark. For me it’s out of my control, I am just trying to play the best I can.”

Gloucester sit five points clear of fourth-placed Saints ahead of their trip to Franklin’s Gardens, with a points difference of +80 after just four games.

“It was massive to get that win over Bath,” Thomas added. “We want to make sure we keep building and do it against the champs in their back yard.

“We’ve had a tough start to the season in terms of the opposition, it’s been a good start, hopefully we can continue that.

“It’s been a better place this year. We’re not getting ahead of ourselves, we’ve won a couple of games but we’re not world beaters yet, we have a lot still to do and a lot still to prove.

“We don’t know what the ceiling is for this group, we’re just taking it step by step but we’re on a good roll at the moment.”