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The Wales international looks set to stay put
Wales prop Rhys Carré looks set to turn down a move to France in favour of staying at Saracens.
The 27-year-old’s current Saracens deal expires at the end of this season, while he has been linked with a move to Leicester Tigers as a replacement for Sale Sharks-bound loosehead Nicky Smith.
But WalesOnline understands he was of interest to a host of Top 14 clubs, while he was also a target for rebel competition R360 but has decided to remain at Saracens.
Carré found himself stuck in the international wilderness after Warren Gatland kicked him out of his Rugby World Cup training camp in 2023 due to concerns over his fitness.
There were suggestions he would switch his international allegiances to Ireland due to his grandfather being born in the Channel Islands, with Munster rumoured to be interested.
But Steve Tandy wasn’t prepared to lose Carré and succeeded in persuading the Professional Rugby Board to grant the powerful loosehead prop an exception in the 25-cap law by selecting him in his autumn squad.
Carré has improved significantly since leaving Cardiff and re-joining Saracens.
He is one of the most explosive ball carriers in the Gallagher Prem and regularly makes significant post-contact metres, while his scrummaging has improved.
Carré had options elsewhere but now appears to be staying at Saracens where he has become an integral part of Mark McCall’s team.
He will be joined at Saracens by Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams next season, who is leaving Gloucester, while Nick Tompkins is also at the club.
The Wales coaching team will have to keep an even closer eye on the Gallagher Prem next season with a plethora of Welshmen plying their trade across the Severn Bridge.
Wales captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake became the latest players to leave Welsh rugby and join Gloucester next season.
The likes of Archie Griffin, Freddie Thomas, Max Llewellyn, Josh Hathaway, Louie Hennessey and Louis Rees-Zammit, among many others, are based in England.
