By Bruce Pope BBC Sport

Wales dismiss Thomas threat Read Thomas' column in full

New Wales skipper Gareth Thomas believes the club versus country tug-of-war for his services will be settled.

Thomas' French club Toulouse have threatened to stop him playing against South Africa on 6 November.

"Toulouse have been unbelievably understanding when I've had to join up for Wales training," he told BBC Sport.

"I'm sure they will continue to be realistic of people's needs and they've said nothing of the sort to me about not releasing me to play for Wales."

Several French clubs believe that the late addition of 6 November to the international calendar did not give them sufficient notice.

As such, the likes of Toulouse are prepared to argue - possibly in the civil courts - that the loss of their international players will have an adverse effect on their business.

The International Rugby Board, world rugby's governing body, has not yet been contacted officially by either clubs or unions over this issue.

But the IRB's rules have always been clear - a club must release a player once he is called up for international duty, unless he is injured.

This is an issue that should be solved in the meeting rooms with the managers and the IRB Gareth Thomas

If a player is not released for an international match, he is then banned from playing for his club side during that period.

"I think this matter will get solved without any players having to get too involved in it and I expect to be leading Wales out at the Millennium Stadium," Thomas added.

"This is an issue that in most cases should not really involve the players and should be solved in the meeting rooms with the managers and the IRB."

Italy, who have many of their players in the French leagues, face Canada the same weekend, while Argentina could also be in the same situation.

Toulouse face arch-rivals Stade Francais on the South Africa weekend, while the clubs of the two other France-based Wales squad players are also in action.

Fly-half Stephen Jones' Clermont Auvergne, formerly called Montferrand, face Brive, while Narbonne, who signed lock Gareth Llewellyn, have a tough trip to Montpellier.