Rhys Carre, the formidable Welsh prop, is poised to make waves in the global rugby arena as he bids adieu to Cardiff and prepares to rejoin Saracens in the upcoming season.
In 2026, he could potentially qualify to represent England, Scotland, or Ireland.
The departure of the 26-year-old deals a significant blow to Cardiff, where his exceptional performance has been highlighted by an impressive tally of seven tries this season.
Although Carre’s aspiration to participate in the 2023 Rugby World Cup for Wales was shattered by a critical statement from the Welsh Rugby Union, citing his failure to meet post-2023 Guinness Six Nations performance targets, he remains determined to reclaim his stature.
Grateful for the opportunity to return to where his journey commenced four years ago, he pledges to bolster Saracens’ ambitious squad.
“It wasn’t easy to come to this decision as Cardiff is obviously a club which means a huge amount to me,” Carre said.
“It’s my home club, the club I grew up supporting, and I came through the ranks here, so I have a lot of friends in the squad.
“But after my previous move to Saracens was cut short, I’ve always felt I had unfinished business there. I had a great year in London and I’m really looking forward to getting back into a different environment and competition.
“I feel like I am performing well at the moment, and I’m really enjoying the style of play at Cardiff, so hopefully, I can continue that from the rest of this season and then at Sarries.
“I’m hugely grateful to everyone at Cardiff – my teammates, the staff and fans – for the opportunities and support I have been given.”
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“All Blacks-bound” – Five England players set to swap nations after falling out of favour
World Rugby’s latest eligibility rules have opened up the door for several prominent England players to potentially switch allegiances to different countries.
Under these new regulations, players can become eligible to represent another nation if they refrain from Test rugby for three years and have a birth connection to the desired country or through a parent or grandparent.
While the decision to switch national teams remains speculative, there are five players who could be considering such a move. Additionally, there are other notable names, such as Sam Underhill and Manu Tuilagi, who could also potentially swap nations. Underhill could opt for the USA, while Tuilagi may consider representing Samoa, given their respective birthplaces.
Furthermore, the Vunipola brothers, Mako and Billy, might contemplate switching to Tonga, the birthplace of their father, under these new eligibility laws.
#1. Ollie Hassell-Collins (Wales)
The Leicester Tigers winger, who was given his debut by Borthwick in 2023, has expressed his willingness to potentially represent Wales in 2026.
Despite earning two caps for England during last year’s Six Nations, the 25-year-old hasn’t been included in Steve Borthwick’s squad since then. Notably, he was absent from England A’s recent triumph over Portugal.
Ahead of this year’s Six Nations, Gatland had mentioned Hassell-Collins several times, especially during the discussion surrounding another dual-qualified winger, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
“I have seen Gatland’s interview,” Hassell-Collins told the Telegraph.
“I’ve got two caps for England, and obviously I’m English. But if I don’t see anything in the next few years then it’s definitely something that I would consider.
“I would qualify [for Wales] the year of the World Cup – that is, if he still wants me. Wales is still part of who I am.
“My grandma was Welsh and I still have family over there. It’s still a part of me – and I’d never turn it down – but for now it’s England for me.”