Faletau to Miss Remainder of Cardiff Season
Wales rugby veteran Taulupe Faletau will be sidelined for the rest of the season due to a "significant" shoulder injury sustained during Cardiff's recent defeat to the Sharks.
The number eight, whose contract expires this summer, incurred the injury early in the second half of the United Rugby Championship (URC) match held in Durban last week.
The 35-year-old exited the field with his right arm in a sling after an awkward landing following a pass at the conclusion of a strong carry.
"We are just waiting for the consultant to clarify his next steps, but obviously it seems like a significant injury," said Cardiff coach Corniel van Zyl.
"With the scan and that type of injury I can't see him playing again this season."
Faletau had made only seven appearances in the 2025-26 season due to previous knee and calf problems before this shoulder injury occurred.
Van Zyl remains hopeful of securing a contract extension for the Wales and British and Irish Lions forward at Cardiff, emphasizing the importance of workload management.
"It is key and was part of the plan we had, but now unfortunately something different happened which has put us back a step," he added.
Cardiff face challenges in the second row for their upcoming trip to Benetton in the Challenge Cup last 16, having lost locks Josh McNally (leg) and George Nott (abdominal muscles) during the South Africa trip.
The Blue and Blacks are optimistic that both McNally and Nott will return for the URC run-in, while Wales international Teddy Williams is nearing a comeback from a foot injury sustained in October.
A Fit Faletau Remains Valuable for Wales
Taulupe Faletau made his Wales debut against the Barbarians in 2011.
Currently in the final year of his Cardiff contract, which he joined from Bath in 2022, Faletau has accumulated 30 appearances for the Blue and Blacks over four seasons. During this period, he earned 18 caps for Wales, bringing his total to 109 international appearances.
Faletau was selected in Steve Tandy's initial squad but suffered a knee injury in Cardiff's final game before the autumn series.
The distinguished forward has represented Wales at the 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023 Rugby World Cups and remains a potential candidate for a fifth tournament in Australia next year.
Leicester-bound Dragons number eight Aaron Wainwright impressed during the Six Nations, yet former Wales wing Alex Cuthbert believes Faletau can still contribute significantly at the Test level.
"If fit, Taulupe Faletau is only beneficial to that Wales team," Cuthbert told the Scrum V podcast.
"If you can manage him and get him near his standard then he will help those boys."
Faletau debuted for the Dragons at Edinburgh as an 18-year-old and went on to make 110 appearances for the club.
He consistently reached double figures in appearances each full season at Rodney Parade before moving to England.
Richie Rees, who played alongside Faletau at the Dragons and coached him at Cardiff, commented on his injury struggles since joining Bath.
"Unfortunately since his time at Bath he has had significant injury after significant injury because in the first 10 years of his career he barely missed a training session," Rees said on Scrum V.
"I hope that it's not too significant. Will we see him again over the next couple of months? I'm not too sure, but here's hoping he has got another couple of years left in him."
