The former Cardiff prop is back in the Wales squad, despite having seemingly been captured by the 25-cap rule
Rhys Carre of Wales(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Wales have revealed how Rhys Carre is available for Test selection, having previously appeared to have been captured by the 25-cap rule.
The 27-year-old, who has 20 caps for his country, has not played for Wales since February 2023, having fallen out of favour with previous Wales coach Warren Gatland. The New Zealander dispensed with the prop at the start of Wales’ 2023 World Cup training camp, after he “failed to meet individual performance targets set at the end of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations”.
That started a Test exile for Carre, with Gatland giving short-shrift to questions about a possible recall despite Carre’s good form for Cardiff.
When Carre once again left for Saracens in 2024, it seemed as though the destructive carrier was lost to Welsh rugby for good – falling five caps short of the 25-cap rule.
And, with a grandfather hailing from Guernsey, Carre was set to become available for other home nations in 2026.
Munster had previously been interested in signing him, knowing he would qualify for Ireland, while Scotland and England could also have been tempted to consider him once he became available in February.
However, the chances of Carre wearing another jersey at Test level now look over – following his recall by Tandy as he named his first squad as Wales coach.
The basic reasoning for the Saracens prop’s recall, given in the WRU’s squad announcement, was that he was “included following confirmation by the Professional Rugby Board that he is eligible for Wales selection”.
Adding meat to the bones, Tandy said: “The Professional Rugby Board have approved him to play.
“That gives me real excitement to have him available for us and to bring him into the autumn. The way he’s playing for Saracens is outstanding.
“Saracens are playing really well at the minute and he’s having huge impacts. It’s really exciting to have him back.
“We’ve got some really good looseheads but it adds to that depth which is great.”
It’s understood the question of whether Carre was captured by the rule was never previously considered by the PRB until last week because it had never been asked, with Gatland never showing any appetite to pick him after the World Cup training camp.
However, once a player who might be captured by the rule is wanted by a coach, the PRB – who met last week – determine whether there are factors that would make him eligible.
Initially, when the 25-cap rule was lowered from 60 caps after the threat of strike action in 2023, the rule did “not make any exception for capped players, with fewer than 25-caps, leaving to play outside of Wales after 31/03/2023”.
That seemingly changed, leading to Jarrod Evans’ Test recall – even when the player himself was unaware if he was eligible for international rugby.
At the time of Evans’ availability being confirmed, a statement from the PRB said: “In the scenario where a player does not receive a reasonable offer to play for a side in Wales and leaves as a result, but has fewer than 25-caps, the new arrangement allows for the Rugby Management Board (RMB) and PRB to consider the player’s eligibility to play for Wales.
“During this process the RMB will assess whether a fair and reasonable offer was made which would keep the player in Wales. If the RMB decides this is not the case the player can be treated as though his current contract outside of Wales pre-existed his selection for Wales.
“For clarity, this means that the player would need to return to Wales at the end of his current contract in order to continue to be eligible for selection, but that he also remains eligible for selection for the duration of that current contract.”
As was the case with Evans – who left Cardiff for Harlequins amid financial constraints at the Arms Park – it’s understood that Carre was deemed not to have been offered a fair and reasonable offer to stay in Wales.
As for whether other players with less than 25 caps could be picked by Wales moving forward – with the rule’s future under scrutiny amid proposed changes to the Welsh game – Tandy said: “That would depend on the process, but it’s governed by the Professional Rugby Board.
“That’s the good thing that I don’t have to get involved with that. It’s just making sure we’re really thorough and making sure that goes through the board.”
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