TOBY Faletau is being tipped to star with the Lions in Australia next year by former Wales captain and number eight Eddie Butler.

The ex-Pooler skipper and respected broadcaster is a huge fan of the Newport Gwent Dragons back rower.

Butler thinks Faletau, 21, wasn’t far behind Rodney Parade teammate, blindside flanker Dan Lydiate, as Wales’ player of the season in this Grand Slam year.

“I know Lydiate won the man of the Six Nations award, and quite rightly so because he was just outstanding,” Butler said.

“But I thought Faletau was very close behind him.

“Everybody kept on saying to me, ‘Oh he’s having a quiet time’.

“I’d reply, ‘You may think he is but that’s because he’s so industrious and he puts himself in a position to be involved at all times.”

In Butler’s opinion, the 16-times capped Faletau is the new model professional Wales need to keep on producing if they are to challenge the best in the world.

“He’s got great hands, he’s a fantastic tackler and lightning off the mark and he’s just one of those silent beasts who gets around and is uncomplaining and unfussy,” 1983 Lion Butler said.

“For me he is the future and we’ve got to model more of them.”

On how Faletau compares with his main competitors, Ireland’s Jamie Heaslip, England’s Ben Morgan and Scotland’s David Denton, for the Lions eight jersey, Butler said: “At the moment I would say Faletau is in with a fine chance, a really good chance of being a Lion.

“He’s different. He’s not the largest but he punches above his weight.”

Butler, who won 16 caps for Wales between 1980 and 1984, added: “I find myself leaping to Faletau’s defence all the time. We shouldn’t be mounting a defence but parading him as one of the best.”