JAMES Thomas may have finished his studies but the Newport Gwent Dragons forward has still had plenty of homework to do over the past few weeks.

The 25-year-old lock/flanker from Blackwood graduated from Cardiff University in the summer with a biomedical science degree.

Thomas enjoyed a breakthrough season at Rodney Parade in 2014/15 while combining rugby with his studies and the learning hasn't stopped even if he no longer spends his evenings with his head in a textbook.

The Dragons have not played since an uninspiring 13-0 success against Zebre on September 11 and have been building towards Saturday afternoon's Guinness Pro12 encounter with Leinster in Dublin.

"It's weird to start the season and then have a bit of a break" said Thomas. "It feels like we are starting again but it has been good to have two weeks to prepare for a game, you don't get that luxury throughout the season.

"We've used the time well with training sessions against each other. It never really boils over because everyone know the limits, it's competitive not over the top.

"And after reviewing the Zebre game we moved straight on to Leinster and have had a good amount of time in our little groups looking at stuff and then presenting that to the rest of the squad.

"There's an external server they put all of the footage on so that we can look at everything then come back in prepared.

"It's good because you are not just told what's going on, you have to look at it yourself.

"It's challenging us and sometimes it's easier to understand something if you have to do it yourself and there's added pressure if you have to present it to people. You have to really knuckle down and understand it."

Thomas played 28 times last season and his appetite for graft earned him a full-time contract.

So far this term he has had to be content with a pair of appearances off the bench but the forward, who was released from the Dragons academy after suffering from injuries before earning another shot thanks to his exploits with Bedwas, is prepared to bide his time.

"I knew my second year would be more difficult because injuries meant that the team picked itself last season," he said.

"It's about being patient. I was disappointed not to be selected first game but last year I didn't play until a couple of months in so I have just got to stay fit and try to take my chance when it comes."

Thomas will hope to be to the fore at the Royal Dublin Society on Saturday against a Leinster side that the Dragons doubled last season.

He said: "Leinster have a big tight five and defend the mauls well. It will be a challenge up front but they do like to play a bit as well.

"We beat the twice last year and that's a massive confidence boost and we are not going there daunted."