The 24-year old is an integral part of the WRU and Ospreys community rugby team based at Llandarcy but at the weekends, he has been making an impression for Swansea in the Principality Premiership.
Despite the All Whites struggling at the wrong end of the table, Sloane has impressed at loosehead and has caught the eye of the coaching staff at the Ospreys.
Sloane was invited in to spend some time training with the first team squad last week, where Steve Tandy and Chris Gibbes have been able to take a closer look at him.
It’s been a strange experience for someone used to being around the environment in a totally different context, but Sloane says the welcome he has received settled any nerves he may have had.
“I’ve really enjoyed the experience,” he said. “I think it makes it a lot easier I already know the group. It makes it easier to fit in and to get advice off the boys. I can’t believe how open everyone has been with me, how helpful they’ve been with giving me advice.
“The likes of Duncan Jones, someone I always looked up to when I was growing up and still do now, has been fantastic helping me when we’ve been doing scrummaging, it’s been fantastic.
“I still have my coaching head on, even when I’m out there in the middle of it and I try to look at things a little bit differently, but the depth of technical stuff that goes into it at this level, and the analysis stuff, is a completely different level to what I’m used to.”
Andy Lloyd, Rugby Operations Manager at the Ospreys, said Sloane had earned the opportunity to work with the senior players and coaches. He said: “His form with Swansea this season has been good, which is why he was invited in to spend the week working with the group. With no fixture, there was a different focus to training and it allowed Steve and Chris to take a good look at Tom within the senior group.
“Within the squad there are a number of players who didn’t come to us through the usual development route, individuals like Scott Baldwin and Sam Lewis who impressed in the Premiership, going on to earn an Ospreys contract that way. We are always looking, watching to see what players are doing well, and if someone impresses then they will get a chance like Tom has.
“He’s a good character, someone we know very well, who is a familiar face around Llandarcy. It’s been a good experience for him, he’s fitted in well and has shown what he is capable of over the course of the week.”
Sloane was back in the white of Swansea on Saturday and as he reflected on the experience and what he has learned over the course of the week, he said he will benefit from it both as a player and in his role as Participation Officer.
“I’ve been keeping my head downand I had a good game against Llanelli a few weeks back when the coaches were watching. They had a chat with me, told me they were impressed and they wanted to see a bit more of me and here I am.
“The whole week was just about giving it the best I can, taking the opportunity to show what I can do and to use the experience to learn the tricks of the trade from the best around. I’m really grateful to everyone at the Ospreys for giving me this opportunity.
“Whatever happens off the back of it, I’ve enjoyed it and I’ve picked up so much that I can take away with me which will benefit me in the Premiership and in my day-to-day job, when I’m back coaching.”
