Thomas will play his 100th and last game for Neath on Saturday

Former Wales fly-half Arwel Thomas is hoping to take up a coaching role with Premiership champions Neath next term.

"When the offer came to go into coaching at the Gnoll next season, I didn't think twice," said Thomas.

"Our support has been absolutely fantastic, that's what it's all about now and why I wanted the role."

Thomas will play his 100th and final game for the Welsh all blacks in the Konica Minolta Cup final against Pontypridd, 15 years after his debut.

606: DEBATE Pay your tributes to Arwel Thomas

Thomas played for Wales 23 times, scoring 216 points as he competed with Neil Jenkins for the red number 10 jersey in a classic battle of playmaker versus game controller.

"I made my debut for Neath and I will play my last game for the club, it could hardly be better," said the Trebanos Youth product.

"I've always played in a way that grabs the headlines. Obviously I made mistakes, many of which would have been punished, but I enjoy playing that way and trying to make things happen.

"Sometimes people remember my playing days for Wales for the wrong reasons, but I wouldn't swap the experience.

"Ok, so I might have got a bit tasty with Philippe Carbonneau [who he famously punched in a Wales v France game] or dropped the odd ball, but when I look back, I have fond memories.

"Anyway, what a lot of people don't know is that as far as Carbonneau was concerned, we ended up being training partners in the same team when I went to Pau.

"The boys all ribbed me about what happened, but the two of us became good friends and that is what rugby is all about."