Aviva Premiership
Bath in the market for new back-rower as Faletau move is 'dead in the water'
Tom Hamilton
November 5, 2015
Wales' Taulupe Faletau shrugs off Chris Robshaw, Wales v England, Six Nations Championship, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, February 6, 2015
Taulupe on duty for Wales © Getty Images
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Bath Rugby are in the market for a new back-rower but the move for Taulupe Faletau is "dead in the water".

The saga over Wales No.8 Faletau's future came to a grinding halt last week when Warren Gatland pulled the plug on his proposed transfer from the Dragons to Bath. But Bath may re-visit a move for the back-rower, who has 53 Test caps, at the end of the season when his contract is up removing the need for any negotiations over a transfer fee.

"We were disappointed Taulupe didn't come here but it's gone now," Ford said, at the launch of the 2015-16 Champions Cup. "The Welsh Rugby Union have their reasons.

"I'm not sure I understand the politics there, but he's not my player this year and we move on. It's dead in the water - at the moment."

With the move for Faletau off the table, Bath are looking elsewhere to bolster their back-row resources as the rumours continue over Sam Burgess' future. When asked whether they are in the market for another player to bolster their back-row stocks, Ford said: "Yeah we are looking for another player. Guy Mercer is out for 12 weeks, we are a bit thin and we are looking in the market.

"We're not going to panic buy, as I trust the squad, but if you get another couple of injuries then you have to look around."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Tom Hamilton is the Associate Editor of ESPNscrum.

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