Wales great Faletau still has drive for fourth World Cup

Wales head coach Steve Tandy believes legendary number eight Taulupe Faletau is still fueled by playing at a fourth World Cup.

The 35-year-old was left out of Wales' squad for the Nations Championship, having only made his return from injury in Cardiff's Champions Cup defeat by Northampton on Sunday.

Faletau showed his class during a 55-minute appearance against the English champions but will remain with Cardiff rather than hunting a first cap since facing Japan in the summer of 2025.

"It's great to see him back, and you see how quickly he picks up the game from not having a lot of rugby," said Tandy.

"He is a legend of our game and a world-class player, so we would definitely not rule anyone out."

Faletau has won 109 Wales caps but has not played under Tandy, who opted to select in-form Taine Basham to rival Aaron Wainwright in November's squad.

The head coach also used Olly Cracknell and Taine Plumtree at number eight in his first year in charge.

Tandy picked Faletau in his first squad, but the former Dragons back-rower then suffered a knee injury for Cardiff, before a Six Nations call-up was also shelved due to a calf issue.

"I haven't spoken to Toby since Cardiff's game, but I've had chats with him over the period that I have been in charge, because he was going to be in the first two campaigns," said Tandy, a former flanker.

"I've spoken to Toby about being fit and available; then we can cross that bridge when he has put some consistent rugby together."

Faletau played at the 2011, 2015 and 2023 World Cups but missed the 2019 edition after breaking his collarbone during the build-up.

Tandy believes that the number eight, who played Tests on three Lions tours, will want to be in the mix for next year's tournament in Australia.

"Toby is competitive. He loves playing for Cardiff and loves playing for Wales, so I can see the drive in him," he said.

"If he's out on the field, then he's not playing just to play for Cardiff; I think Toby has ambition to play for Wales."

Faletau, whose father Kuli played for Tonga at the 1999 World Cup, has the motivation but needs to show that he has the durability.

He racked up games for club and country when at Dragons but has played only 31 times for Cardiff since joining from Bath in 2022.

"With the older athlete, you're not going to ask them to play 80 minutes every week," said Tandy.

"You need to have enough evidence that they are going to be robust enough for a World Cup campaign, when you only take a squad of 33.

"You have to be robust to play back-to-back games, which I'm hopeful Toby can do.

"You have to manage players. Even the boys that are at their prime physically probably can't back up 80 minutes every week either."

Faletau will aim to show he is ready if needed for the November Tests in Cardiff against Japan, New Zealand, Australia and another opponent on Nations Championship finals weekend.

Cardiff host Sharks at the Arms Park on Friday in the United Rugby Championship (URC) before finishing the first block of the season at Ospreys.