Wales cut Rhys Carre from World Cup squad following blunt statement

The 25-year-old was named in Warren Gatland's 54-man squad in May but has been axed from the extended group, the Welsh Rugby Union confirmed.

Carre, who has 20 caps to his name, now joins the retired Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb in dropping out of Wales' original selection.

"Rhys Carre has been released from the Wales senior men's preliminary training squad for Rugby World Cup 2023," read a WRU statement on Thursday.

"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, a former Saracens front-row who plays his rugby for Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship, was one of 10 props named in Wales' squad.

The loosehead made an impressive start to his international rugby career and featured in the Welsh squad at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.