Former Wales international Rhys Thomas has revealed the chaotic nightlife he and his team-mates enjoyed after international matches in Cardiff.
The South Africa-born prop played for Dragons and Scarlets, and was involved with the national team between 2006 and 2009.
Speaking to former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton on 'The Big Jim Show', Thomas opened up on his life-changing heart attack in 2012, his drug taking and the celebrity lifestyle of a Welsh international.
Hosting the podcast, Hamilton said: "If we go back, when it was all glory, a professional athlete and professional rugby player playing for Wales. Were they wild times? I know you've spoken about what it was like and being a rugby player, but not just a rugby player, but for Wales. It is slightly different
"Gavin Henson, Hooky, Lee Byrne, Andy Powell - it was f**king wild. You were rockstars, absolute rock stars and we were on the coat tails. What was it like then? Was that every week? At every international you got a taste for it?"
Thomas replied: "Yeah, we were in quite a unique squad at the time. Like you said, Gav was probably one of the first rugby superstars. We had a mixture in the squad of real top quality and brilliant British Lions, but they all loved the social. And then when Gats came in...
"We were always mad on it. Steve Hansen left and we had Gareth Jenkins. It was a little unprofessional that there was no balance.
"In 2008 when Gats came, the scene changed. But then he still gave the boys licence. He said as long as you're winning and within reason and you're doing things and keeping accountability, like player-led accountability, within reason it's fine.
"I can assure you that when we were winning Test matches, we were going out afterwards."
Hamilton asked if Gatland knew how "wild" the players' nightlife was.
"I don't know," Thomas said. "The boys were mad, they loved it.
"Cardiff is wild anyway, they love it, right? It's one of the most passionate rugby countries in the world. After an international, 70,000 people pour out of a stadium and they are on it. Then you go and roll out into Cardiff in your black tie post-match.
"Literally right, there's working-class Rhys from Jo'Burg and then King of Cardiff. VIP, red carpet, free booze, people offering you things, drugs, whatever you want, there's women throwing themselves at you. You're like a kid in a sweet shop. You just can't believe what's happening.
"It's crazy right, you can't imagine it. It was something I struggled with mate, I struggled to turn that off if I'm honest. That little bit of recognition, that little bit of fame."
Thomas was asked just how prevalent alcohol and drugs had been throughout his career. He has previously spoken of taking drugs during his Wales career and how he fooled doping testers and the Welsh management.
"When I had my heart attack I was f***ed," he said. "There was no drugs then. There was never any times during the weeks that I was ever drinking or doing drugs. I think people mis-contextualise what I'm saying when I've talked about it in the past when I say I did do drugs. There were points in my career and I did.
"It was only ever on the weekends. It wasn't ever like proper manic, it wasn't ever like I was on it all the time. But obviously it happened, it's hard not to get into that, but we were getting tested all the time, even with Wales, the testing protocol that we had then was strict.
"They wanted to know where we were every morning for three months. If you left where we were for that time slot every morning you had to text a number (WADA doping agency)."
Following his heart attack in 2012, Thomas retired from rugby. He has endured highs and lows since leaving the sport but is now more than three years sober following successful rehab and is awaiting a heart transplant.
You can watch the full podcast here.
Read next:
- Wayne Pivac's final words as Wales coach as he accepts responsibility
- Warren Gatland completes stunning return as Wales coach as Wayne Pivac sacked
- South Africa international Sbu Nkosi 'located' after being reported missing
- Shane Williams says Wales' 60-cap rule past its sell-by date amid mounting calls for change so best players can be picked
- Joe Marler leaves Sarra Elgan Easterby incredulous in awkward live TV interview
