Tandy says Faletau still has drive for a fourth World Cup

Wales head coach Steve Tandy said Taulupe Faletau still possesses the ambition to play at a fourth Rugby World Cup after the 35-year-old returned from injury for Cardiff in their Champions Cup defeat by Northampton on Sunday.

Faletau, who made his Wales debut against the Barbarians in 2011, has won 109 caps for his country but was left out of Wales' Nations Championship squad. He played 55 minutes in the Cardiff match against the English champions and will remain with Cardiff rather than pursue a first Wales cap since facing Japan in the summer of 2025.

Tandy praised Faletau's quick readjustment to match action, saying: "It's great to see him back, and you see how quickly he picks up the game from not having a lot of rugby," and added: "He is a legend of our game and a world-class player, so we would definitely not rule anyone out." The coach has not yet worked with Faletau in a Test, having selected Taine Basham to rival Aaron Wainwright in November's squad and also used Olly Cracknell and Taine Plumtree at number eight in his first year in charge.

Tandy recalled picking Faletau in his first squad before the player suffered setbacks: "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," and said: "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 missed a Six Nations opportunity after a knee injury for Cardiff was followed by a calf issue.

Faletau featured at the 2011, 2015 and 2023 World Cups but missed the 2019 tournament after breaking his collarbone during the build-up. Tandy pointed to the number eight's Test and British & Irish Lions pedigree and added that he believed Faletau would want to be in contention 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," and "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's family background and recent club availability were also noted: his father Kuli played for Tonga at the 1999 World Cup, and Faletau has appeared 31 times for Cardiff since joining from Bath in 2022 after previously accumulating many games while at the Dragons. Tandy emphasised the need to manage an older player’s minutes, saying: "With the older athlete, you're not going to ask them to play 80 minutes every week," and added: "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 required for the November Tests in Cardiff against Japan, New Zealand, Australia and another opponent on Nations Championship finals weekend. Cardiff's next fixtures are a United Rugby Championship home game against the Sharks at the Arms Park on Friday, followed by a visit to the Ospreys to finish the first block of the season.