Cardiff target URC opener for Taulupe Faletau comeback

Cardiff are hopeful Taulupe Faletau will be available for the start of the 2026-27 United Rugby Championship, with the Wales number eight progressing through his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury. BBC Sport reports that the club are targeting their opening league match against Scarlets on Saturday, September 26, but have not declared him ready to play.

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Faletau suffered the season-ending injury during Cardiff’s match at Sharks in March. The 35-year-old made only seven appearances during the campaign after also dealing with knee and calf problems earlier in the season. He has now rejoined pre-season training, although his work remains non-contact while Cardiff assess the next stage of his recovery.

Head coach Corniel van Zyl said Faletau can run and is in a good position from a fitness perspective. Cardiff plan to introduce more contact work before deciding when he is prepared for full matches. The approach leaves his participation against Scarlets uncertain rather than confirmed, with contact conditioning still to be completed.

Cardiff announced a one-year contract extension for Faletau at the beginning of July. The former Dragons and Bath forward has played 30 times for the Welsh club since joining in 2022, with injuries restricting his availability. Van Zyl said the presence of Alun Lawrence and Taine Basham gives Cardiff options to manage Faletau’s playing time when he returns.

The back-row forward has won 109 caps for Wales, with his latest international appearance coming against Japan in the summer of 2025. He was selected in Steve Tandy’s first Wales squad 11 months ago, but a knee injury suffered in his final club appearance before the autumn internationals ruled him out. A calf issue then kept him sidelined during the Six Nations.

A return to fitness would also put Faletau back in contention for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Aaron Wainwright started at number eight in nine of Wales’ 12 Tests during the 2025-26 season, while Olly Cracknell, Taine Plumtree and Morgan Morse were also used. Faletau has previous World Cup experience from the 2015, 2019 and 2023 tournaments, but Cardiff’s immediate focus is completing his club return safely.