NEWPORT Gwent Dragons number eight Taulupe Faletau hopes that a dual contract with the Welsh Rugby Union is still on the table.

The 24-year-old has another year left on his deal at Rodney Parade but has been a notable omission from the list of 12 players that have penned dual deals.

Faletau has been linked with a move to big-spending Aviva Premiership outfit Bath, who were said to be interested in paying a transfer fee to bring him to the Rec after the World Cup.

The Dragons have said they will not entertain such a move with director of rugby Lyn Jones reinforcing that Faletau will be in his squad for 2015/16 "without a shadow of a doubt".

And the Pontypool-raised number eight says he is happy to stay put and hopes that a dual contract is still an option.

Faletau said: "I've got another year here and that's my plan for the future. There was a dual contract on offer and I hope that it's still on offer.

"It's a decision I've got to make. I changed agents and that delayed things."

Faletau, who is now represented by the Stellar Group stable that represent his cousins, the Saracens and England forwards Mako and Billy Vunipola, was high on the list of Wales boss Warren Gatland's wanted list.

He has played every minute of Wales' 17 Tests since he was rested against Tonga in November, 2013 but has not agree terms with the governing body.

So far flankers Sam Warburton and Dan Lydiate, lock Alun Wyn Jones, fly-half Dan Biggar, scrum-half Rhys Webb, centre Scott Williams, fly-half/full-back Gareth Anscombe, lock Jake Ball, tightheads Samson Lee and Rhodri Jones and burgeoning Newport Gwent Dragons pair Tyler Morgan and Hallam Amos are on dual deals.