TAULUPE FALETAU SET TO RETURN AT START OF SIX NATIONS

Wales have received a shot in the arm after Bath’s director of rugby, Stuart Hooper, revealed that Taulupe Faletau should make his return to action when the Six Nations starts in February. The 31-year-old has been sidelined with an ankle injury sustained on the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa and last played in the second Test of that series at the end of July. But Hooper said the Cardiff-bound number eight is close to a return to action. “Taulupe is not too far away,” he told the BBC. “It’s an aggravation of the ankle injury he picked up the first time he trained with us after the Lions tour.

Making progress

“It’s just that which is keeping him away from training, but he’s progressed in the last few weeks and hopefully we’ll see him back out there sooner rather than later.” Wales kick off their Six Nations campaign against Ireland in Dublin on February 5 and when asked if he believes Faletau will be fit for that encounter, Hooper replied: “Yeah, I think so. Taulupe’s a world class player and always gets talked about when the Six Nations comes around, but he’s not played rugby since before the Lions Test matches.

“So that’s a long time without playing and we want to see him back playing for Bath as soon as possible. Then I’m sure Wales will want to look at him after that.” SOURCE: PLANET RUGBY