NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have written to the Welsh Rugby Union asking for permission to sell star number eight Taulupe Faletau to Bath.

Rodney Parade chief executive Stuart Davies has reportedly asked the governing body to rubber stamp selling the 24-year-old Lions star to the Aviva Premiership big guns before his current contract expires at the end of the season.

The Dragons have been resigned to losing Faletau for some time after getting a lukewarm response to contract talks and the Pontypool-raised number eight also failed to meet a WRU deadline for a national dual contract.

Northampton have also made no secret of their desire for a strong-running number eight but Bath are in pole position to sign Faletau and talks were held this summer between Rodney Parade bosses and their counterparts at the Rec.

However, under the Rugby Services Agreement between the WRU and the regions the Dragons would require permission from the governing body to sell Faletau to a club over the border.

Wales boss Warren Gatland has just two wild card picks for players plying their trade overseas and it had been thought these would be used on Harlequins centre Jamie Roberts and Bath fly-half Rhys Priestland, although it is believed that the latter is keen to concentrate on his club career and would get a clear run at the 10 jersey while England’s George Ford is on Six Nations duty.

If the Dragons don’t get the green light then an option would be to plough on and risk the consequences seeing as they risk losing a six-figure sum in a position where they are reasonably well covered.

Summer recruit Ed Jackson has made a strong start to the season for the Dragons at number eight while Lewis Evans and Nick Crosswell can also play at the base of the scrum.

Supremely talented openside Ollie Griffiths has earned rave reviews while playing with 8 on his back for Newport while his Wales Under-20s back row colleague Harri Keddie, who is allocated to Ebbw Vale, is earmarked as one for the future.