- Date of Birth12 / 11 / 1990
- Lions Tours2013, 2017, 2021
- International CapsWales (106 caps)
- Lions Origin SchoolsFilton College Bristol
- Lions Origin ClubsCardiff Rugby, Bath Rugby, Cross Keys, Tonmawr, Newport, New Panteg RFC, Newport Gwent Dragons, Ebbw Vale RFC
Veteran back-rower Taulupe Faletau will become a four-time British & Irish Lion this summer and embark on his second Tour of Australia.
Faletau burst onto the international stage with stellar showings at the 2011 Rugby World Cup as Wales reached the semi-finals and has not looked back since.
In a whirlwind introduction to Test rugby, he then appeared in all five matches of Wales’ Grand Slam-winning 2012 Six Nations campaign.
At the age of just 22, he played a key role on his first Lions Tour, playing all 80 minutes in the decisive 41-16 victory in the series decider.
Faletau went on to be one of the stars of Lions Tour to New Zealand in 2017 – starting all three Tests as the tourists claimed an historic drawn series with the All Blacks.
He started six games on Tour in total and his try in the second Test in Wellington proved to be a game-changing one, swinging the momentum in the favour of the tourists as they became the first side to beat the All Blacks in the Westpac since 2003.
And he was at the forefront of a huge defensive effort in the third and final Test at Eden Park as the Lions held on for a draw and a dramatic share of the spoils in the Test series.
He became the 131st player to captain Wales when he led the side out against Italy in the 2018 Six Nations but a spate of serious injuries saw him miss out on Wales’ Grand Slam success in 2019 as well as their run to that year’s Rugby World Cup semi-finals.
But Faletau returned with a vengeance to play a starring role in Wales’ 2021 Six Nations success, finishing with the third most carries (66) and third most tackles (77).
He also earned the Player of the Match award in his side’s famous 40-24 win over England which secured the Triple Crown, while also being shortlisted for the Player of the Championship gong.
Faletau appeared in five Lions matches in 2021, including games against Japan and South Africa A, though he only featured for 21 minutes in the second match of the Test series against South Africa.
The No.8 returned to form and fitness in 2025, with a series of strong Six Nations performances helping to force his way into another Lions squad.