BATH RUGBY HAVE been charged with allegedly breaching Premiership Rugby policies after releasing Taulupe Faletau to play for Wales against South Africa last weekend.
The Premiership club allowed Faletau to play in Saturday’s November Test in Cardiff, a game which fell outside of World Rugby’s official international window.
Faletau missed Bath’s domestic league game against Exeter Chiefs and Premiership Rugby has today confirmed they have breached the governing body’s approved policies.
The policy was waived last season because Wales’ fourth and final Autumn Test fell on the same weekend as an Anglo-Welsh fixture, but Premiership chiefs have taken a harder line this time around.
While Faletau featured for Warren Gatland’s side in their 24-22 win, his international team-mate Rhys Priestland was on the bench for the game against Exeter, while Chiefs prop Thomas Francie and Gloucester’s Owen Williams weren’t released for international duty.
In a statement, Premiership Rugby says Bath have seven days to respond to the charge and once that time has passed a further update will be issued.
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