Wales’ Ben Carter will return home on Wednesday after his injury at the weekend
The Welsh Rugby Union have confirmed Ben Carter has been released from the Wales squad following his injury against Japan on Saturday.
The game in Kitakyushu was less than 30 seconds old when Dragons man Carter went down due to a heavy knock to the head.
There was immediate concern for the lock, with medics called onto the pitch to treat him. He was placed in a neck brace and after a wait of around five minutes was transported off the pitch via a stretcher.
“If you are just joining us, worrying signs for Ben Carter, bang to the head in the first minute, he will not return to the field of play, that’s a given,” said BBC commentator Gareth Rees Owen at the time.
At half-time, team-mate Elliot Dee provided an update on Carter’s condition via the BBC.
“Obviously, not great to see Carts going down so early on,” he said. “I saw his dad in the crowd and he was obviously pretty worried.
“But good news, a couple of the boys have had communications with him, I haven’t been in to see him myself but he’s up and around, so all good there.”
It has now been confirmed that Carter won’t play any further part in the rest of the tour, with one Test still to come against the Brave Blossoms this coming weekend.
“Ben Carter has been released from the squad due to a concussion sustained in the first Test,” a short WRU statement said.
“He will return to Wales on Wednesday.”
The tweet that accompanied the statement added “32 players remain to prepare for the 2nd Test in Kobe”.
Wales will be looking to put an end to their miserable 18-Test losing streak on Saturday following their shock defeat to Eddie Jones’ men last Saturday.
“You could see the feelings not just from the squad but the whole staff as well,” said interim head coach Matt Sherratt following the match. “They are a very passionate group.
“We had a lead going into the first half so to lose the game at the end is very disappointing.
“Already we have got to quickly use the hurt to fuel us for next week.
“The great thing about this tour is we get the opportunity to put it right.”
