Wales risk losing Toby Faletau as dual contract is withdrawn

The Lions Test No 8 is one of the more sought-after players in Europe

Toby Faletau could leave Wales this summer for better pay (GETTY IMAGES)

Toby Faletau’s uneasy relationship with the Wales hierarchy came under further strain yesterday when the national head coach, Warren Gatland, confirmed that the offer of a so-called “dual contract”, partly financed by the governing body, had been withdrawn. The Lions Test No 8 is one of the more sought-after players in Europe and this development fuels speculation that he will leave for richer pastures at the end of next season.

The new contracts were introduced in an effort to keep the best Welsh talent in Wales and lure home leading players who had already left for England and France on big-money deals. Gatland made significant progress when three senior figures with the Swansea-based Ospreys – the outside-half Dan Biggar, the scrum-half Rhys Webb and the outstanding lock Alun Wyn Jones – put pen to paper, but Faletau, currently with Newport-Gwent Dragons, missed his deadline.

“It was disappointing that he didn’t sign and it’s off the table for him at the moment,” Gatland told the Western Mail. “He was aware of the deadline and for us to go back on that when others had signed would not have been fair. We couldn’t make an exception.”

Faletau, who has another year on his current deal at Rodney Parade, has been heavily linked with a move to Bath. Gatland indicated a contract could be re-offered next season. “It hasn’t yet come to us having to make an example of someone,” he said, but the coach was clearly frustrated at failing to tie down one of his most prized forwards ahead of the World Cup.

Bath, meanwhile, have the England tight-head prop David Wilson back in their front row for tonight’s important Premiership visit to Harlequins, where victory will make them hot favourites to secure a home draw in the semi-finals. Wilson missed the Six Nations because of a neck injury but is back to full fitness after surgery.

Quins have selected two long-serving and hugely popular players, the wing Ugo Monye and the lock George Robson, for their last home games at the Twickenham Stoop. Monye retires at the end of the campaign; Robson is heading for the top-flight French club Oyonnax.

Gloucester have lost the centre Billy Meakes and the flanker Ross Moriarty to two-week bans following transgressions during the European Challenge Cup final victory over Edinburgh a week ago, but both will be available for the Champions Cup qualification play-offs later this month.