Newport Gwent Dragons have accused the Welsh Rugby Union of costing them £400,000 by failing to help them keep their Lions No8 Taulupe Faletau, who will join Bath next season.
Faletau refused to sign a national dual contract last season and tried to join Bath after the World Cup, only for the move to be blocked by Warren Gatland. He then agreed terms with the Dragons but has announced he will join Bath next summer after talks with the WRU broke down.
“I am very disappointed at the WRU,” said Martyn Hazell, the Dragons’ chairman. “We had agreed a new contract with Taulupe and he was happy to stay with us. It required the union to come up with more money and they wouldn’t. I don’t blame him for moving to Bath.
“We have been turned over by our own union. This affair has cost us £400,000 in the transfer fee from Bath, who throughout all this have been excellent, and wages. We will now receive nothing when Taulupe leaves us at the end of the season at the end of his contract and the WRU will not give us any compensation.
“When we agreed a deal with Taulupe, he went to see the WRU on a number of occasions but they would not pay the extra that would have kept him in Wales. I am not sure he has spoken to Warren since the end of the World Cup and with all the talk from the union about the need to keep the top stars in Wales, I would have thought someone with Taulupe’s track record would have been at the top of the list. It is hugely frustrating and makes me angry.”
In an earlier statement the Dragons revealed they learned of the news from Faletau’s agent and had described the situation as “extremely disappointing …given our understanding a national dual contract was being negotiated with the union.”
The WRU said it was planning to release a statement later on Wednesday.
It is believed the dual contract would have been worth £325,000 a year, 60% of which would have been paid by the WRU. Faletau stands to earn 20% more at Bath, leaving Gatland with a potential selection problem. From next season, he will only be able to pick three wild card players, those based in France and England who turned down the offer of a regional contract.
The Wales coach faces difficult choices. Jamie Roberts is at Harlequins, Rhys Priestland at Bath where Luke Charteris and Faletau will be next season, George North has re-signed for Northampton, Leigh Halfpenny is considering whether to take up the option of another year with Toulon amid interest from Cardiff Blues, and Wasps, and Rhys Webb is being wooed by Saracens.
The scrum-half Webb, who is recovering from a broken ankle he sustained before the World Cup, met the WRU this week to discuss the dual contract he has been offered and further talks are planned.
Faletau, who made his Wales debut in 2011 and has won 52 caps, told the Bath website: “The way Bath approach the game suits my style of play, which was a big factor in me wanting to join. The opportunity to work with Darren [Edwards, Bath’s first-team coach) again after doing so with Wales Under-20s and the Dragons was also too good to turn down. I’d like to thank Dragons for everything they’ve done for me in my career.”
Bath’s coach, Mike Ford, said: “When we talk about this club being ambitious, we’re not just paying lip service: signing a player of Toby’s calibre is evidence of that.
“He is a world-class player who never takes a backwards step and he will add competition to an equally fantastic back row. We’re continuing to build a formidable squad that will challenge for silverware for years to come.”
