They are the first signings made by Davies since he moved from Leeds Tykes to his former club this summer. Nathan Thomas returns to Wales after a season under Davies’s guidance at Headingley, while James Bater switches from the Ospreys to Stradey Park.
“These are two very important signings for the club and I am delighted to have secured both players,” said Davies. “Nathan is one of the most experienced and respected players in Europe and one of only eight Welshmen to have played in a Heineken Cup winning team.
“Having worked with him at Leeds I know all about his qualities and he will bring a hard, competitive edge with him. As for James, he is one of the brightest young back row talents in Wales.
“He has displayed good leadership qualities at his former clubs and surely deserves more than the one Welsh cap he has under his belt to date.”
Thomas and Bater will join a pool of back row talent at Stradey Park that already includes Irish international Simon Easterby, Wales No.8 Alix Popham and rejuvenated Welsh openside Gavin Thomas.
Thomas won the last of his nine Welsh caps against South Africa in 1998 and will arrive in west Wales having played 111 English Premiership games for Bath and Leeds Tykes. He had six seasons at Bath, helping them to win the Heineken Cup in 1998, before spending two seasons at Cardiff Arms Park, where he played 38 Celtic League and Cup matches.
He has eight seasons of Heineken Cup rugby under his belt and has played 42 matches in Europe, including one season in the Challenge Cup with Bath.
Bater has made 60 appearances for Swansea and the Ospreys in the Celtic League and Cup and has played 19 times in the Heineken Cup.
James Bater
Born:Â 07/01/1980
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 16st 5lbs
International record: 1cap (W 1) 2003 Romania (rep)
James Bater won his Wales cap as a replacement in the 2003 victory over Romania at Wrexham. Capped in the second row by Wales Senior Schools, he switched to the back row when selected by Wales Youth at No.8 and then blindside flanker in the FIRA Youth World Cup, including a try-scoring display against England and the final against New Zealand. Won Wales U19 and U21 caps and has played Heineken Cup rugby for Swansea and the Ospreys.
Nathan Thomas
Born: 22/01/1976
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 15st 6lbs
International record:Â 9 caps (WÂ 6, LÂ 3) 1996 South Africa (rep); 1997 USA (1 rep,2),Canada (rep), Romania, Tonga, New Zealand; 1998 Z, South Africa
Nathan Thomas featured in all three summer Tests in North America in 1997, twice as a replacement, after making his debut as a second half replacement for Dale McIntosh in the 1996 game against South Africa. He joined Bath from Bridgend and then moved to Cardiff Blues and Leeds Tykes. A former Wales Schools U18, U21 and Students cap he has played at lock, No.8 and blindside flanker for his clubs. Played in both U21 tests in 1996 and was at the Students World Cup in South Africa that summer. He was also included in the Wales Sevens Squad for the Dubai Qualifying tournament for the World Cup finals.
