FALETAU LINED UP BY NEW FRENCH GIANTS
WALES and Lions No.8 Taulupe Faletau is the latest global star to be linked with French club Beziers as their multi-million pound takeover from a Middle Eastern billionaire nears completion.
The ambitious French PRO D2 club had a double setback last week when initial targets Dan Biggar and Courtney Lawes penned extended deals to remain in the Gallagher Premiership with Northampton.
And another star on their marquee player hit list, All Blacks ace Beauden Barrett, has agreed a reported £780,000 12-month deal to play in Japan’s Top League with Suntory Sungoliath instead.
However, it hasn’t stopped Beziers moving on with their shopping list and French media are reporting the club are set to test the resolve of Bath by making a move for back-row colossus Faletau.
The 76-times capped Welsh forward penned a new deal with Bath in the summer of 2018 and still has some time left on that contract.
But the Covid-19 pandemic has brought rugby’s finances to its knees, and with Beziers set to have an initial 10 million euros investment once the United Arab Emirates takeover goes through, a hefty compensation package for one of Bath’s top earners would be put on the table.
Midi Olympique have reported Beziers’ new director of rugby Christophe Dominici, the 67-times former French wing, has made an approach for 29-year-old Faletau. Ambitious Beziers are also said to be monitoring Maro Itoje’s situation at Saracens and have South African 2019 World Cup winner Eben Etzebeth on their shopping list too.
Faletau’s blockbusting style of play made him one of the best back-row forwards in world rugby, attributes which have made him a target for Beziers.