Rhys Carre keen to end surreal year on high with Wales

Adam Kyriacou
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Wales loosehead prop Rhys Carre has revealed he was without an official contract offer a year ago as his rapid rise continues in the game.

The 22-year-old Saracens prop is set to win his ninth cap when Wales conclude their Six Nations campaign against Scotland on Saturday.

And the former Cardiff Blues player has become an important part of the Wales set-up, as illustrated by him making five appearances at last year’s World Cup in Japan.

“It has been a bit of a weird 12 months for me,” he said. “This time last year I had no official contract offered to me.

“It was all up in the air, and I made the big decision to move to Saracens. I don’t regret it at all.

“I got lucky enough to get picked to go to the World Cup. I enjoyed my time there and it has been all go since, really. It’s quite surreal.

“I don’t think I have played 40 professional games of rugby yet, so to achieve what I have is surreal. I would never have seen it coming, to be honest.”

Carre is battling with Rob Evans and Wyn Jones for the Wales number one shirt.

Jones started against Italy, Ireland and France, while Evans was recalled to face England and Carre added two more substitute appearances to his total by featuring in Dublin and at Twickenham.

“I think my scrummaging has improved over the last 12 months,” Carre added. “I think my defence has improved.

“I’ve been in a lot of different coaching groups over the last 12 months, and I’ve learnt different bits from all of them.

“As a player, you adapt quickly to the way the coaches want you to train. You make sure you prepare physically how you need to.

“When I first came in I wasn’t in the best physical shape. I am not saying I’m perfect now, but I am in a lot better shape than I was back then.”

And key for Carre and company this weekend will be to end a losing Six Nations run – Wales’ longest since 2007 – following defeats against Ireland, France and England.

It would also give Wales a decent send-off into scheduled July tour games against Japan and New Zealand, with the All Blacks awaiting them in Auckland and Wellington.

“Obviously, we aren’t happy with the way we have played,” Carre said. “We’ve made quite a few errors and we haven’t taken our opportunities.

“We need to put our best foot forward going into the summer. We are going to put everything into this game, try to capitalise on the opportunities we make and make less errors.

“You don’t take anything for granted, especially in international rugby.

“All the teams are well-drilled and have really good players. When a team rocks up and plays really well like that (Scotland ended France’s Grand Slam bid at Murrayfield last weekend), you aren’t surprised.

“They will pose a good challenge on the weekend, but it’s nothing we can’t live up to. We are looking forward to it.”

 

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