Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb reveals reason behind international retirement

Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb has no regrets about giving up his Rugby World Cup dreams after announcing his retirement from Test rugby recently.

The 34-year-old followed Justin Tipuric and Alun Wyn Jones in giving up the chance of representing his country at the global tournament in France.

Webb has since signed for Pro D2 side Biarritz on a two-year contract, which will be his second stint in France.

Supporting a young family

“In an ideal scenario I would have loved to have played for Wales in the World Cup but with negotiations stalling, and the fact I have a family to support I had to make this decision,” the scrum-half told WalesOnline.

“I wasn’t willing to take the risk of getting injured in the training camps while I was out of contract. What happened to me in 2015 is still fresh in my mind and if that had happened again this time it would have been the end of my career because I’m 34 now.

“It was a nightmare for me getting injured so close to the 2015 World Cup, and all these demons were are the forefront of my mind. It would have been far too big of a risk for me going into that with no contract.

He added: “I met the Biarritz president who has faith in me and offered me a long-term deal which is what I wanted in the first place but couldn’t get that in Wales. I always wanted to move back to France because I love the way they play the game, and the crowds they get.

“I don’t regret not playing in the World Cup because there are more important things like providing for my family. Playing for the British & Irish Lions was one of the pinnacles of my career and was number one on my list. Representing Wales meant the world to me and I’m honoured to have done it 40 times.

“I’ve got a young family to support and family is more important to me than rugby. As Gats has always said family comes first, and I had to put my family first here because there was only a one-year deal on the table in Wales.

“The one-year deal I got offered to stay at the Ospreys was terrible, and there was no security. A one-year deal provides no security for a rugby player, especially with all the stuff which has gone on this year with the contracts.

“If I’d taken that one-year deal come October or November my mind is going to be elsewhere thinking ‘oh s**t, what if I pick up an injury now, it will stop me from getting another contract in Wales.’

“I realised a long time ago there was no loyalty in the game anymore and this is just a business now so it just summed it up. I bit the Biarritz president’s hand off when he offered me a two-year deal and I can’t wait to get over there to get stuck into it.”

Webb was a key part of the Wales squad during Warren Gatland’s previous time in charge but had never played in a World Cup having missed out in 2015 and 2019.

He was then discarded by Wayne Pivac but, after the 60-year-old was sacked late last year, Gatland took charge and brought the scrum-half back into the fold.

With Webb becoming first choice number nine for the Six Nations he was set to play a key role at the global tournament, but the experienced playmaker has to forgo that opportunity.

Distractions

“Having been in the international wilderness for so long I obviously didn’t expect to come back to all that,” he said. “I loved my time in Welsh rugby but there always seems to be something happening in the background or something trying to distract you.

“I’ve always said to myself not to take any notice of it but it was much harder this time. There were a lot of conversations in the media about the Ospreys merging and if we were going to lose a region it would be the Ospreys along with the contractual freeze.

“There’s always some drama going on. When I moved out to France for the first time it was always about going out of the goldfish bowl, and being out of the news in Welsh rugby.

“This decision I’ve made has taken all the weight off my shoulders and I feel I can just concentrate on rugby.”

READ MORE: Wales legend Alun Wyn Jones delays retirement after signing for French club