'NEWPORT Gwent Dragons' has been written next to Taulupe Faletau's name in 50 international matchday programmes.

It'll be 51 against Australia on Saturday then, injury-permitting, 52 on Rugby World Cup quarter-final weekend. After that, who knows?

Maybe South Africa/Scotland/Japan will be sent packing and Faletau will add another pair of caps. Perhaps he will still be with the Dragons come the Six Nations.

But it's likely that sooner rather than later 'Bath' will follow Faletau in the programme, just as 'Ospreys' went after Ian Gough, 'Perpignan' followed Luke Charteris and 'Racing Metro' was after Dan Lydiate.

When the number eight does head for pastures new there will be a tinge of sadness but, in my opinion, Toby will leave with his status secure as the greatest Dragon to date.

He will always be highly-regarded at Rodney Parade and I can't think of anybody who has been a better ambassador for the region.

It was a proud moment for many – those in Ebbw vale who watched his dad Kuli, those who saw him raised in Pontypool, those who saw him star for Cross Keys – when he led out the teams in Wales' Wolrd Cup clash with Fiji in Cardiff a week ago along with Lydiate and Akapusi Qera on their 50th caps.

Some famous names have played for the Dragons – Percy Montgomery, Colin Charvis, Michael Owen, Bobby Skinstad, Rod Snow, Lydiate, Charteris – but nobody had done more than Faletau to put them on the map.

In recent years he has flown the Dragons flag alone in the Wales matchday 23 like a modern-day Wade Dooley, who ensured Preston Grasshoppers always got a mention on the biggest stage.

And I don't think anybody has been a better player than Faletau when plying their trade at Rodney Parade.

The 24-year-old's performances were incredible at the World Cup in New Zealand four years ago when he was just a young pup and he is now a genuine Test icon with plenty more development to come.

Faletau was immense in the comeback win against England at Twickenham a fortnight ago, rivalling Dan Biggar for the man of the match honours thanks to his incredible work rate.

He had to cope with handling the ball at the base of a rapidly retreating scrum, was a lineout option, made plenty of tackles and in one incredible moment kept up with rapid wingers Hallam Amos and Anthony Watson when racing back for a kick through.

So consistently great are his performances that sometimes we take him for granted; now he only stands out when he has a shocker, as he did in the warm-up Test against Italy.

And the beauty about Faletau is that his exploits on the international scene haven't stopped him wanting to turn out with his pals at Rodney Parade.

The Dragons have not finished in the top half of the Celtic league since 2005 and have played in the second tier European competition since 2011.

Yet in the last four seasons, while winning 49 caps and playing virtually every minute for Wales plus playing seven times for the Lions, Faletau has donned Dragons colours 71 times. He hasn't invented a tight calf or sore shoulder, he's put on his strapping and turned out with his mates.

His commitment to the Dragons cause has been admirable... but dare I say it a move away could see him become the best number eight in the world.

With Sergio Parisse on the wane he will soon be Europe's best (although the Irish would take umbrage with that statement) and in years to come will battle with another gargantuan back rower from Pontypool for that honour.

His cousin Billy Vunipola was also immense in the clash at Twickenham before his tournament was ended by injury and he will get the chance to continue his development over the coming years playing in big games for Saracens both domestically and in Europe.

If Faletau does soon opt to step up a notch on the club scene then nobody will blame him – it wouldn't be a case of a young talent being whisked away too soon a la Wayne Rooney – and thankfully he now has some young international Dragons to pass the baton to.

The number eight has set the bar pretty high for Amos, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Elliot Dee and Ollie Griffiths.