WELSH Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips wants to make staying in Wales an attractive option for Taulupe Faletau – but admits he doesn't mind where the Newport Gwent Dragons ace plays if he opts to shun a move over the border.

Last month the governing body turned down the Dragons' request to sell the Lions ace to Bath for a six-figure transfer fee ahead of his contract expiring in the summer.

French giants Toulouse are now said to be monitoring the situation after losing Louis Picamoles to Northampton and Phillips doesn't believe Faletau's decision will purely come down to money.

The Dragons already pay the Pontypool-raised back row forward a healthy figure, so the WRU boss wants to make staying at home an attractive option.

"A big part of my job is to keep the best players in Wales," said Phillips, who took over from Roger Lewis earlier this month.

"The way I want to do that is create an environment where they want to stay and we are doing a lot of work behind the scenes, although I'm not in a position to go public with anything yet, where we are putting things in place to make it more attractive for the guys to stay.

"I've met a lot of them now and, while everybody's got a mortgage to pay, it's not just about the money for them.

"They do want to play in successful teams, in front of big crowds, in the best competitions, coached by the best coaches.

"Therefore if I spend all the money on the best players I won't be addressing many of the other elements the players want.

"Within that mix Toby will have a decision to make and it's no different to business where ultimately if a player really, really wants to go we have to let them.

"We all know that but we have to do our level best in the mean time to make it attractive for them to stay.

"If anybody's ever resigned to me I've never tried to persuade them to stay because they've made their decision but right now Toby has got some options and he needs to think them through. It's his call."

While Bath is still Faletau's most likely destination, there remains the possibility that he could opt to sign for a Welsh rival when he is a free agent.

Dragons chief executive Stuart Davies said that he hoped Faletau would remain at Rodney Parade if he signed a national dual contract.

"As far as I am concerned I don't mind what region anybody goes to, my big priority is to keep them in Wales and make it attractive," said Phillips.

"The extra to that is that I speak to Stuart all the time about a whole range of issues and there are much bigger things for us to address.

"What we need is a successful, sustainable region at the Dragons that engages with the rest of Gwent. I have got much more passion for that.

"At the end of the day, it's going to be a flip of a coin if Taulupe stays or goes and it isn't even my decision anyway. I'm not doing my job if I get sucked into that."