Wales international Rhys Carre could switch international allegiances very soon and Welsh rugby fans have been raving about the towering prop on social media
11:42, 20 Oct 2025Updated 11:53, 20 Oct 2025
Rhys Carre of Saracens during the Gallagher PREM match between Saracens and Sale Sharks(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Welsh rugby fans are calling on Steve Tandy to find a last-minute loophole in the eligibility laws to allow Rhys Carre to be called up for the autumn internationals. The big prop was unfancied by former Wales head coach Warren Gatland, having not featured for his country since 2023, and decided to move back to Saracens last year, thus making himself ineligible for Wales under the 25-cap rule.
Now 27, Carre started out his club career at Cardiff Rugby before earning a first move to PREM Rugby heavyweights Saracens. He impressed so much during the 2019/2020 season he was brought back to Cardiff with an eye on breaking back into the Wales squad – after making his debut in the 2019 World Cup warm-up matches.
Despite some strong performances for Cardiff in the years after his return, he was not able to establish himself as a regular in the national squad. One key moment occurred ahead of the 2023 World Cup, when the Welsh Rugby Union released a statement revealing he was omitted from the squad because he had “failed to meet individual performance targets set at the end of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations.”
Having been ostracised from the Test arena, Carre decided to return to Saracens last summer and he has been performing incredibly well since making his return to English rugby – although the move means he is banned from being called up by Wales.
In Sarries’ big win over Sale Sharks at the weekend, teenager Noah Caluori made all the headlines after scoring five tries on his first start, as well as displaying remarkable aerial ability. A try clip was posted online but Welsh rugby fans picked out Carre’s contribution from the opening segment.
After receiving a pass from Owen Farrell, Carre showed for an offload before dummying and bumping through flanker Ernst van Rhyn with ease. His pass found Caluori, who cruised in for his opening score.
TNT Sports commentator Chris Ashton said: “Carre in the loose, as well, has been so good all season.”
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Carre has 20 caps for Wales, which means he is five short of the number that would allow him to play for his country while plying his trade outside of it.
The 25-cap law is a revised version of the original 60-cap law which was introduced in 2017 to keep talent in Wales. After the threat of strike action due to contract disputes, the WRU agreed to lower it to 25 caps in 2023.
At this present moment, Carre is the only high-profile player that is captured by the law. Joe Hawkins was the previous big name but he now plays for Scarlets and is therefore eligible for Wales again.
However, there are loopholes around the law, as we have previously seen. Harlequins and former Cardiff fly-half Jarrod Evans has less than 25 caps and plays in the PREM, which means on paper he should be ineligible. However, there is a loophole that allows him to represent Wales due to the fact he was not given a reasonable offer to remain with Cardiff. He then played for Wales under Matt Sherratt in the Six Nations earlier this year.
Any possible loopholes would need to be considered and approved by the Professional Rugby Board, which consists of representatives from the WRU and each of the four Welsh regions, who are in favour of the cap law. The idea is it not only helps keep the best young Welsh players in Wales but also gives the Wales coach more time with players as those outside of Wales do not need to be released until a week before matches played inside the international window.
Noting Carre’s superb performance for Saracens at the weekend, Welsh fans played with the idea that there may be a similar loophole that Tandy could exploit ahead of the autumn Tests. Wales announce their squad for the autumn internationals on Tuesday, October 21.
Rhys Carre on the charge for Saracens(Image: Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Former Wales international Scott Baldwin wrote: “Rhys Carre playing extremely well for Sarries and their attack is on fire, fair play to Dai Flanagan.”
One fan wrote: “Rhys Carre has got to be in the Welsh squad.”
“Tandy needs to find a loophole for the cap law immediately,” remarked another, before a different fan suggested the same: “Is there a loophole to bring Carre back into the Welsh squad? Might not be as good a scrummager as the other props but he’s certainly the best carrier at prop who’s WQ.”
As reported by WalesOnline in the summer, Carre is being targeted by Munster, which could see him switch his international allegiance from Wales to Ireland. He has another year on his Saracens contract but it is believed to be being targeted already.
Carre’s grandfather is from Jersey which means that he is eligible to represent all four home nations. So, once his three-year stand-down period is complete in 2026, he can play for any of them.
Under World Rugby eligibility laws, a player can switch their international team when they haven’t played for the previous country for three years. This will come into effect for Carre in the middle of the Six Nations next year.
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