THE fate of Newport Gwent Dragons number eight Taulupe Faletau is in the hands of the Welsh Rugby Union, says Bath head coach Mike Ford.

The saga surrounding the 24-year-old’s move from Rodney Parade to the Rec is still rumbling on with the issue surrounding his international release for Wales commitments the central issue.

Faletau has a year left on his Dragons contract but increasingly looks likely to join former teammate Jonathan Evans in heading over the Severn Bridge to Bath with Ford telling BBC Radio Bristol that it is the WRU that hold the key if the big move is to happen.

"Recruitment never stops. With Toby, it is well documented that we have spoken to him," he said.

"Nothing is sorted out and we won't say anything else until he has signed. It's in the Welsh Rugby Union's hands and we'll see where that goes."

Faletau is currently with Wales at their second World Cup training camp in Doha but the Dragons will be keen for the long-running transfer saga to come to a swift conclusion.

Director of rugby Lyn Jones has Ed Jackson, Lewis Evans and Nick Crosswell as options at number eight for the upcoming season, backed up by Wales Under-20s prospect Harri Keddie.

Faletau is being put through his paces ahead of England 2015 alongside the Dragons’ exciting young trio of backs, Hallam Amos, Tyler Morgan and Jack Dixon, and the Rodney Parade outfit have been keen to stress that a transfer of their star player does not signal a lack of ambition.

“Considering such an offer is certainly not an indication that the ambition is diminished in any way, shape or form here,” said chief executive Stuart Davies.

“We are all very excited about what is going on at Rodney Parade and the talent that’s coming through and what we are looking to build.

“I am very conscious that considering an approach for Taulupe rails against that a little bit. But I would like to reassure fans that we are looking get better and build things here rather than the opposite, which some may take the inference from this particular event.”