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.
Martyn Hazell, the Dragons’ chairman, feels they have been “turned over by [their] own union”. 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 the national coach, 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 Hazell. “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 in 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.”
The WRU would not comment on the development, except to release a brief statement expressing its disappointment at Faletau’s departure, claiming to have “continued to liaise on all developments” with the Dragons. It appears the union have let Faletau go of its own accord.
“When we agreed a deal with Taulupe,” continued Hazell, “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.”
Stuart Davies, the Dragons’ chief executive, corroborated that position. “This is the worst possible outcome for us,” he said, “ given all that has gone before, and it leaves us feeling extremely disappointed as well as significantly worse off financially.”
Mike Ford, Bath’s coach, said their negotiations had been with the Dragons until the WRU blocked Faletau’s transfer request in October. Since then, they have dealt directly with the player’s representative. They have had no contact with the WRU.
Bath’s burgeoning investment will elicit further outrage from those who believe they have been in breach of the salary cap, but Ford insisted that in his two-and-a-half years at the club they have never overspent. He warned English rugby against creating “a monster”, now the salary cap has been raised, with two players’ salaries exempt from consideration.
“Trevor Francis was the first million pound footballer,” Ford said, “now people get £1m per week. We’ve got to be careful not to create a monster, because otherwise it will become like football. It’s everyone’s responsibility for it not to be like that. Hopefully we’ve still got a lid on it.”
Whether Faletau’s £400,000 a year amounts to keeping a lid on it is a moot point, but upward pressure on wages is inevitable, particularly when competing with the monster that is already up and running in France. It is believed Faletau’s dual contract in Wales would have been worth £325,000 a year, 60% of which would have been paid by the WRU. Now Faletau will earn around 20% more at Bath.
The developments leave Gatland with a potential selection problem. From next season he will only be able to pick three wildcard players, those based in France and England who turned down the offer of a regional contract. Jamie Roberts is at Harlequins, Rhys Priestland at Bath, where Luke Charteris and Faletau will be next season, and 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. Rhys Webb is being wooed by Saracens.
Ford shrugged when asked about Faletau’s status with the national team. “I don’t know [about his international selection]. I don’t think it changes. I’m not too sure on how the wildcard thing works. He’ll be picked for Wales. I don’t want to comment on the details of his contract, but he’ll be able to play for Wales in the Six Nations.”
Bath now have quite the array of back-row names, having signed Dave Denton, the Scotland No8, with immediate effect when Sam Burgess walked out after the World Cup. Ford suggested that with Leroy Houston ripping up trees from No8, Faletau and Denton will also be considered as flankers, where Francois Louw and Matt Garvey, among others, already provide sterling service. “When we talk about this club being ambitious,” said Ford, “we’re not just paying lip service. Signing a player of Toby’s calibre is evidence of that. We’re continuing to build a formidable squad that will challenge for silverware for years to come.”
Ford fought his corner when challenged on their spending levels. “We have been [committed to the salary cap] since I’ve been here. I’ve been privy to what’s gone on in terms of the salary cap, and we’ve been spot-on. Unless you’re involved people don’t know the detail and sometimes we can’t tell you all the detail. We haven’t overspent and we won’t do.”
