WALES head coach Warren Gatland says the Welsh Rugby Union’s offer of a national dual contract to Taulupe Faletau is now ‘off the table’ after the Newport Gwent Dragons star missed a deadline to sign one.

The news and the fact that Gatland says there is interest in him from ‘other clubs in the UK’ means the future of the Dragons No.8 is up in the air as the current campaign nears its conclusion.

With only one year left on his current deal at Rodney Parade, fears will increase that Faletau could be tempted to join the exodus of talent from Wales.

“It was disappointing he didn’t sign a national dual contract,” said Gatland.

“He had changed agents at the time, he was offered one and it was up to him whether he wanted to sign it.

“He has another year left on his contract with the Dragons and there has been interest in him from other clubs in the UK.

“But it is off the table for him at the moment.”

Gatland says Faletau could yet change his mind, however, adding: “That’s not to say there wouldn’t be one (a dual contract) on offer to him (Faletau) for next season but it’s off the table at the moment.

“The reason for that is we had long protracted discussions with agents about certain things and the irony is that there is more concessions on the dual contracts than there is on club contracts.

“We put a deadline on players having to be signed otherwise they would be taken off the table and he was aware of that.

“The others all signed and so it put me in a bit of a difficult situation when players and agents have been told a deadline.

“To go back on that when others have signed would not have been fair, we couldn’t make an exception.”

Bath have been linked with a move for Faletau for the last two years and Gatland has re-iterated he wants his international stars to stay in Wales.

“It hasn’t come yet to be having to make an example of anyone,” he told Walesonline.

“I think we always have to respect what players want to do but at the same time protect our game here.”