IRB Rugby World Cup
Gatland to have final say as Faletau nears Bath switch
PA Sport
June 25, 2015
Taulupe Faletau
Taulupe Faletau© (GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

Wales coach Warren Gatland has confirmed that Taulupe Faletau is close to joining Bath and assured the number eight he would not be hampered by 'Gatland's Law'.

Faletau has a year left on his Newport Gwent Dragons contract but it appears increasingly likely the region will cash in on their asset, with the Premiership club keen to sign the British and Irish Lions forward.

The Dragons' local rivals Cardiff Blues have also expressed their interest in the 24-year-old but Gatland does not believe Tongan-born Faletau wants to play for another Welsh region.

It has been suggested that the 45-times capped Faletau moving to play his club rugby in England could present problems for the Wales coach under the so-called 'Gatland's Law', which will permit only two wildcard selections from those playing outside the country after this autumn's World Cup.

But Gatland was keen to set the record straight over the terms of the 2014 deal struck between the Welsh Rugby Union and the country's four professional regions concerning the selection of players abroad.

"We're discussing it (Faletau's situation) at the moment with the Dragons, the regions and Bath," Gatland said. "Toby's got the biggest choice to make, that's on-going and hopefully that gets sorted out in the next week.

"There is potential there for Toby to move, that's up to him, but he wouldn't be hampered by that.

"There are exceptions in the policy and one of them with a country as small as Wales is that we have to look at the financial considerations.

"The regions argued for financial reasons that a player could be released from his contract and that's what has happened in this situation.

"When clubs come looking for Toby and offer a significant transfer fee then it's a business decision for one of our regions to potentially sell that player on, because they are struggling financially.

"So if Toby does leave he would be protected. He would be one of the players on that quota list because someone's come looking for him and it's not his decision to go."

Gatland also confirmed that should Faletau move, there would be a full release clause in his Bath contract guaranteeing his availability for all Wales games.

This would avoid the problems that some players - notably Lions wing George North at Northampton Saints - have encountered in the past and missed international matches.

"My understanding is that he would do the same as Jamie Roberts," Gatland said. "If he didn't have full release we wouldn't be considering releasing him. Why would you do that?

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