THE NEWPORT GWENT Dragons have requested permission from the Welsh Rugby Union to sell number eight Taulupe Faletau.
Faletau has long been touted with a move away from the Dragons to Premiership side Bath, and with the player’s contract due to expire at the end of the season, it seems the Dragons are prepared to offload one of their prized assets for a six-figure sum.
However, under the rules of an agreement between the Welsh regions and the WRU, any player’s move outside Wales must be approved by Warren Gatland.
And with Gatland only able to pick two wild-card players players, it means that Faletau’s transfer could have real implications on his test future.
Under the current arrangement, Gatland is only allowed to pick two players based outside the four regions, although this does not apply to players who joined clubs outside Wales prior to the agreement coming into place.
As it stands, both Rhys Priestland and Jamie Roberts fall into the wild card bracket, and if Faletau were to leave Wales, it would mean only two of those three could be considered for selection.
Newport chief executive Stuart Davies told the club’s official website: “Throughout the summer there has been speculation regarding Taulupe’s future, and unfortunately this has resurfaced immediately following the conclusion of the World Cup.
“It disappoints me enormously that this is playing out in the public domain, since ordinarily I would not wish to comment on such matters until they have been resolved one way or the other.
“Given the circumstances however, I feel obligated to confirm that a transfer request has been submitted, such that we may consider our options and bring to a swift conclusion a matter that is both distracting and unsettling to all parties concerned.
“I have no wish to share anything further but may be happy to do so once the matter has been concluded, which I hope will be very soon.”
Faletau has made 52 caps for Wales, with the Tonga-born number eight becoming one of their most influential players since making his debut in 2011.
Dragons to cash in on Faletau with a move to the Premiership on the horizon
THE NEWPORT GWENT Dragons have requested permission from the Welsh Rugby Union to sell number eight Taulupe Faletau.
Faletau has long been touted with a move away from the Dragons to Premiership side Bath, and with the player’s contract due to expire at the end of the season, it seems the Dragons are prepared to offload one of their prized assets for a six-figure sum.
However, under the rules of an agreement between the Welsh regions and the WRU, any player’s move outside Wales must be approved by Warren Gatland.
And with Gatland only able to pick two wild-card players players, it means that Faletau’s transfer could have real implications on his test future.
Under the current arrangement, Gatland is only allowed to pick two players based outside the four regions, although this does not apply to players who joined clubs outside Wales prior to the agreement coming into place.
As it stands, both Rhys Priestland and Jamie Roberts fall into the wild card bracket, and if Faletau were to leave Wales, it would mean only two of those three could be considered for selection.
“It disappoints me enormously that this is playing out in the public domain, since ordinarily I would not wish to comment on such matters until they have been resolved one way or the other.
“I have no wish to share anything further but may be happy to do so once the matter has been concluded, which I hope will be very soon.”
Faletau has made 52 caps for Wales, with the Tonga-born number eight becoming one of their most influential players since making his debut in 2011.
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