Why DID Taulupe Faletau’s move to Bath fall through?

The convoluted story of Toby Faletau’s proposed move t0 Bath has been explained by Wales On-line’s Simon Thomas (see below and follow link) lat last month. It’s a sobering story of complications, technicalities and intrigue that would make an agents or a players blood run cold:

“It’s been one of the sagas of the summer, with more twists and turns than an episode of Strictly! Taulupe Faletau’s on-off move to Bath has been a transfer tale that has run and run, causing mass confusion along the way.

It’s provoked far more questions than answers and left the public puzzled and perplexed.

In an attempt to clarify the complexity, rugby correspondent Simon Thomas charts the events that have happened so far, looks at the key issues and explains why the Faletau case is so unique.”

Want the mist to clear over why the Wales No8’s proposed transfer from the Dragons to Bath fell through? Read this Q&A and, rest assured, it will.

What’s the background to this whole saga?

Faletau has a year to run on his deal with the Dragons, who he has been with since 2009.
Midway through last season, he was offered the chance to transfer to a WRU National Dual Contract, but didn’t sign up by the deadline, much to the disappointment of Warren Gatland, so the offer was withdrawn.
At some point, Faletau became aware of interest from Bath and formally requested that he should be allowed to speak to them, which the Dragons agreed to. It became clear Bath wanted him.

Were the Dragons prepared to let him go?
Their starting point was they wanted him to stay with them. But when Bath came in, they were faced with having to make a prudent business decision.
If Faletau was likely to leave next year anyway, with them receiving nothing, might it be better for them to cash in now, especially as he is set to be away with Wales for much of next season?
As the player is contracted to the Gwent outfit, they would want compensation in return for releasing him early.
The word was they had slapped a £250,000 price tag on his head and that big-spending Bath were ready to pay a significant transfer fee to take him to The Rec after the World Cup. All the signs were that the Dragons were willing to let him go and take the money.
So why didn’t the deal go through weeks ago?
Before a region can sell a Wales player ahead of the end of his contract, they must receive approval from the WRU and the three other regions.
That is written into the Rugby Services Agreement – the hugely detailed peace deal drawn up between the Union and the regions last year.
If the Dragons were to sell Faletau without that joint blessing, they would be in breach of the RSA and run the risk of sanctions.
It’s Wales coach Warren Gatland who ultimately decides whether to grant WRU approval in such cases.
The peace deal between the WRU and regions saw the rules around Faletau’s switch drawn up
From the outset, he made it clear he would only do so if Faletau had full international release written into his Bath contract.
Speaking in June, Gatland said his understanding was that the player did have it. He also said that joining the west country club would not hamper the No 8’s Wales prospects.
His belief was, as the move would involve him being released early by the Dragons, Faletau would not fall foul of the WRU Senior Player Selection Policy – the so-called Gatland’s Law. So it looked like all systems go.
How did the move run into trouble then?
It didn’t take long for the saga to take a couple of key twists and turns.
First, Premiership Rugby Ltd – the umbrella organisation for the top English clubs – insisted they would not sanction Bath handing Faletau full international release as it ran contrary to their policies.
They had previously fined Northampton £60,000 for granting George North full release and indicated that any further breaches would result in stiffer penalties.
They were sticking to their guns, raising inevitable doubt over whether Bath would be willing to break the rules and face the potential consequences.
Then, adding further to the mix, it emerged that Faletau would be captured by Gatland’s Law after all if he moved to The Rec.
That was the verdict reached following lengthy debate at a meeting of the Professional Regional Game Board, the body which features representative from both the WRU and regions.
The somewhat complex reasoning was if the 24-year-old moved to England with Gatland’s approval, the Dragons would then not be breaching the RSA.
Confused? Who wouldn’t be? But it did mean the ball was firmly back in Gatland’s court.
How has the Wales coach reacted?
He’s blocked the move. After the World Cup, Gatland will only be able to pick two wild cards – exiled players who are captured by the WRU selection policy.
There are already two players in that category – Harlequins recruit Jamie Roberts and the Bath-bound Rhys Priestland.
Allowing Faletau to leave would create an unwanted problem, as three into two doesn’t go. So Gatland is not about to grant permission.
Rhys Priestland and Jamie Roberts will be Gatland’s wildcards

Could the Dragons sell Faletau to Bath anyway?
They could, but then they would be opening themselves up to the possibility of sanctions, maybe in the form of financial penalties, which would kind of defeat the object. And speaking to them, they have no desire to go down the rebellion route in any case.

Could Faletau just walk out?
Well, he could offer to buy himself out of his contract, with Bath’s support, but the Dragons are under no obligation to accept that request and, as I’ve said, they are not about to defy Gatland by selling him.
Moreover, you couldn’t see Faletau looking to go down that road, given he knows the move now doesn’t have the blessing of the Wales coach.

Might Faletau go somewhere else other than Bath?
No. It’s pretty clear it’s either a case of him going to Bath or staying at Rodney Parade for another season.
He has been linked with the Blues, Scarlets and Northampton, but none of those are goers.
There would be no great incentive for the Dragons to let him go to another Welsh region – especially arch rivals Cardiff – as there would be no transfer fee involved.
Moreover, Faletau has apparently not expressed an interest in going anywhere else other than The Rec.

Why has Gatland blocked Faletau’s move but not taken the same stance over Roberts and Priestland?
Simple, because he can.
The fact that Faletau is under contract to a Welsh region means he can refuse permission for the Dragons to sell him and effectively stop the transfer happening.
Priestland was out of contract at the Scarlets and Roberts was a free agent too having been released by Racing Metro, so Gatland could not block their moves.
Why is it okay for Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies and Luke Charteris to play in France, but not okay for Faletau to play just down the road in Bath?
The French contingent are not impacted by Gatland’s Law as they moved abroad before it officially kicked into gear and, in the main, have full international release.
Faletau would be affected by the law and there remains the question of whether he would have had full release.

What will happen next year when Faletau comes out of contract?
It remains to be seen, but the likeliest option is he will move on to Bath, if they still want him.
Provided there is a counter offer on the table from either the WRU or a region, then he would be captured by Gatland’s Law if he leaves and have to become a wild card selection.
But Gatland’s wild cards increase to three from 2016-17 and the Lions No 8 would be odds on for one of those.

What’s the wider significance of the whole saga?
Well, it does mean that the much-criticised Gatland’s Law has actually prevented a player from leaving Wales.
It might well just be a temporary reprieve, but it does show it has a few teeth after all.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/taulupe-faletaus-move-bath-fall-9765980