By Gareth James
Rhys Carre has become the fourth drop out from Wales’ 54-strong World Cup training squad in two weeks.
Following on from the shock international retirements of Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb, the giant Cardiff prop has been axed by Warren Gatland ahead of the formal gathering of the full squad next week.
In a terse statement released on Twitter only, the WRU claimed the 25-year-old loose head had been cut from the group for “failing to meet individual performance standards.”
Carre made three appearances during the Six Nations earlier in the year and was one of four loose head props included in the initial draft of 54 players, along with clubmate Corey Domachowski, Ospreys duo Gareth Thomas and Nicky Smith and the uncapped Scarlets front rower Kemsley Mathias.
The 20-times capped Carre has had question marks surrounding his fitness throughout his career and at 129 kg (20st 4lbs) he is the biggest man in the Welsh pack. Gatland recognises his potential and included him in his squad for France at the expense of British & Irish Lions prop Wyn Jones.
BREAKING: Rhys Carre released from Wales World Cup training squad as blunt statement issuedhttps://t.co/cLPC53qjOq pic.twitter.com/5o0Ly47Kqw
— WalesOnline 🏴 (@WalesOnline) June 1, 2023
Gatland used him off the bench in five games at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, including the semi-final and Bronze Final, but has now put him out in the cold ahead of fitness camps in Switzerland and Turkey this summer.
“Rhys Carre has been released from the Wales senior men’s preliminary training squad for Rugby World Cup 2023,” the Welsh Rugby Union said in their tweet.
“Following ongoing discussions between the player and the Wales coaching team, Carre has failed to meet individual performance targets set at the end of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations.”
Carre was one of 10 props selected in the training squad alongside Smith, Domachowski, Thomas, Mathias, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Keiron Assiratti, Henry Thomas and Will Davies-King.
Domachowski, Mathias, Assiratti, Thomas and Davies-King are all uncapped, while Carre has made 20 Test match appearances.
His Wales debut came in 2019, and he was also part of the World Cup squad in Japan later that year.
Wales play three World Cup warm-up games in August, with their tournament opener being against Fiji in Bordeaux on September 10.