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Newport Gwent Dragons call for help over Toby Faletau future

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments32

Toby Faletau

Dragons boss Rob Beale hopes the formation of the Professional Regional Game Board will help secure the future of Toby Faletau.

The Board was set up by the Welsh Rugby Union and the four regions to run the game in Wales.

One its objectives is to keep players in Wales and Beale says they must act if the Dragons are to keep Faletau.

"Effectively they've got 12 months to keep Toby Faletau at the Dragons," he said.

"One of their stated aims is to keep Welsh players playing in Wales so if that is a stated aim then they've certainly got to be involved in the decision-making process of how we set about that.

"Whether that's Toby Faletau or any other talented Welsh player that's coming towards the end of his contract.

"The bottom line with Toby is that he's still in contract here next season.

"Toby like Dan [Lydiate] and like any other talented young player will be targeted by other clubs that have more resource in terms of finance available."

Newport Gwent Dragons director of rugby Beale has previously admitted the region face a challenge to keep hold of Wales number eight Faletau.

Dan Lydiate will leave the region at the end of the season and is expected to follow former Dragons Luke Charteris and Aled Brew (Biarritz) into French rugby.

Charteris has former Osprey James Hook as a Perpignan colleague while Gethin Jenkins (Toulon), Mike Phillips (Bayonne) and Lee Byrne (Clermont Auvergne) are among the other high-profile Welshmen in France.

And Beale says Wales' four regions will find it increasingly hard to keep hold of their Welsh stars unless they receive financial assistance.

"You're competing against teams who have huge budgets," he added.

"I'm certainly not suggesting that we go to those sorts of levels, but I think realistically the whole of Welsh rugby needs to revisit its aims and ambitions.

"If regional rugby and the four regions are to compete seriously within Europe then we need to increase levels of funding from wherever avenue that may come."

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32 comments

  • Comment posted by daveonbank, at 22:16 21 Dec 2012

    2.Ian Sankey

    Falatau has lived in Wales since he was 7 years old.

    That is quite a bit longer I think than some of the recent English imports from South Africa, Samoa, New Zealand and Tonga.

    Still, if the IRB want to make a mockery of the International qualification rules that is up to them.

  • Comment posted by Palehound, at 00:50 22 Dec 2012

    Not sure why my last comment was removed when some of the comments are bordering on bnp. Comments about Welshies 'buying in talent' are the comments of morons more interested in antagonising than debate

  • Comment posted by Cockers, at 22:17 21 Dec 2012

    As in anything in life you go where the money is, no talented player in the world is going to stay at any club or region for the love of the sport. Short time scale in rugby to earn some money, therefore the wage is more important, regardless if nations will not pick them for international duty.

  • Comment posted by D1679290703463, at 21:44 21 Dec 2012

    Why would they want to keep him? Awful form this year. If he doesn't fancy France he could always head back home to Tonga.

  • Comment posted by User0594744359, at 12:56 22 Dec 2012

    Adam jones wanted to stay at the Ospreys and thank god for that.
    If the new organisation has any credibility it will ensure that several of the new breed get to stay.

  • Comment posted by User0957391382, at 14:49 22 Dec 2012

    Looks like 11 wrote his message before bedtime? Dragons in real need of sorting out, keeping Faletau might help but they need some experienced players in there too. Crucial time for the regions, they need to be coming into next season on fire, on and off the pitch, improved crowds, higher pace of play and balanced squads, developing local talent where possible. Think the ref's need to wake up too!

  • Comment posted by JohnnyWAL, at 19:16 22 Dec 2012

    @24 so you don't think that Read is up there then? Tell me 'God' who is your number one 8 in the world? Also i said in my opinion never said he definitely is blah blah blah

    @25 And Billy Vunipola is small compared to Henry Tuilagi so is Billy a bad player? Size doesn't matter for me personally, Toby's fitness, work rate and tackle count make up for the 10-15 meters more Vunipola makes in a game

  • Comment posted by User0178782951, at 18:41 22 Dec 2012

    23. because he is small for a no 8 of pacific island heritage look at Billy Vunipola who is also a lot more of an effective ball carrier

  • Comment posted by User0150001548, at 23:06 21 Dec 2012

    Laughable. Asking the WRU for free money because they can't get their own houses in order and generate enough income to keep a good player? I wonder what the English F.A. would say if Man Utd asked for free hand-outs to keep Wayne Rooney at Man Utd or Steven Gerrard at Liverpool.

    Every week it seems we have an article regarding a Welsh region asking for money or blaming someone else.

  • Comment posted by Objective thinker, at 10:04 22 Dec 2012

    Interesting comments from God who appears on all these message boards and doesn't have one constructive comment to make. Falateau is an outstanding player, still only 21 and will definitely be on the lions tour. He was one of the stand out back row forwards at the last WC. Just check the stats.

  • Comment posted by User0648604938, at 22:51 21 Dec 2012

    Not sure Wales, or any other smaller nation, can do much about losing their best players to other leagues in the long run... It's simple economics and a side effect of multi-national professional sport.

    What I don't understand is why international selectors are so concerned with where their countrymen play... Look at England with Armitage.

    Surely having players used to other styles is good!?

  • Comment posted by User0675292809, at 10:28 23 Dec 2012

    From a welsh fan aka me: Toby couldnt dent tin foil. Why do Wales always pick terrible players and leave out form players!!! poor Ryan Jones is in the form of his life.
    On a side note Lee Byrne playing full back for the best team in Europe yet apparently isnt good enough for the squad. We'll never come near winning the W.C or beating the A.B's at this rate.

  • Comment posted by Eddie Munster, at 09:59 22 Dec 2012

    packpower, do you mean one or many ? "Having a stars".
    Bottom line is people pay to watch teams to WIN and play a game that matches the entrance fee. The intensity is lacking also.
    I think we need to cut to two regions, play in the CCS and PYS. split the talent two ways, change the Rabo euro qualifiying to make it harder, pushing the intensity......there is no space for NGDs in this im afraid

  • Comment posted by Sandfield, at 22:46 21 Dec 2012

    just asking a question mr moderator, remove my comment but not mr sankeys??

  • Comment posted by JohnnyWAL, at 17:53 22 Dec 2012

    Quality player, looking at the Dragons team they have good players dotted around, but players like Buck looking at Jarvis and Andrews being picked ahead of them for Wales won't stay at the Dragons,also i don't understand the comments about him lacking size? only 22 and 6'2 and 110kg, the best no.8 in the world in my opinion, Kieran Read is only 2kgs heavier and an inch taller. It's Not about size!

  • Comment posted by D1679290703463, at 18:48 22 Dec 2012

    Toby faletau is hugely overrated- Wales: if you're going to mug Tonga for players, take good ones.

  • Comment posted by packpower, at 08:29 22 Dec 2012

    Having a stars at welsh clubs (regions) helps gets bums on seats and helps to inspire a new generation - kids (and adults) love success.

    I think he's a very good back row player, perhaps lacks the size / power of a top quality number 8 but defensively he's right up there. When all are fit the triumvirate of Warburton, Lydiate and Faletau is one of the reasons the welsh defence has been so mean.

  • Comment posted by D1679290703463, at 18:38 22 Dec 2012

    @23 Lol. "best number 8 in the world" hahaha. Have you started on the cracker jokes early. You cannot be serious. If you are... Oh dear oh dear

  • Comment posted by User0178782951, at 22:46 21 Dec 2012

    so overrated, he's a pacific islander missing a pacific islanders number one rugby asset.... size

  • Comment posted by User0520901218, at 16:50 23 Dec 2012

    The Dragons could do with some more experienced players if they ever wish to achieve anything, Charteris, Brew, Tovey, Keeping Lydiate and Faletau. The crowd and atmosphere at Rodney Parade is the best out of Welsh teams, at least the stand is full. Who posted cutting down to two teams? real strength in depth. too funny

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