Cardiff Rugby Club is hopeful that veteran Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau will be ready to play in the upcoming 2026-27 United Rugby Championship (URC). The 35-year-old suffered a season-ending shoulder injury while playing for the Sharks in March and was limited to just seven matches last season due to earlier knee and calf injuries. Despite these setbacks, Faletau has been participating in pre-season training and is expected to increase his involvement as Cardiff prepares for their URC opener against Scarlets on Saturday, 26 September (19:45 BST). Head coach Corniel van Zyl noted that while Faletau is not yet participating in contact drills, his fitness is in a strong position, and the team plans to gradually reintegrate him into more intense training before deciding when he can return to full match action. Faletau has made only 30 appearances for Cardiff since joining in 2022, but the club recently announced a one-year contract extension for him. Van Zyl praised Faletau's impact on the team, saying that his presence on the field elevates the performance of his teammates and brings a sense of confidence. "He's a world-class athlete," Van Zyl said, adding that Faletau's contributions in training are noticeable and valuable. The coach also mentioned that the team will manage his playing time carefully, with other number eight players like Alun Lawrence and Taine Basham available to share the workload. Faletau had a successful career with the Dragons from 2009 to 2016, but has faced frequent injuries in recent years. Van Zyl believes that taking a summer break and participating in a full pre-season will help Faletau regain his form at Cardiff. "His fitness levels are up there," Van Zyl said, emphasizing that the focus now is on improving his contact conditioning. Faletau has also had a challenging time with injuries at international level, including a knee injury that cut short his final appearance for Wales before the autumn internationals and a calf injury that affected his performance in the Six Nations. Faletau earned his most recent cap for Wales in a match against Japan in the summer of 2025, and remains a potential candidate for the 2027 World Cup in Australia. While Aaron Wainwright has been the primary number eight for Wales in recent Tests, other players like Olly Cracknell, Taine Plumtree, and Morgan Morse have also seen action. Van Zyl believes that a fit Faletau, who has previously played in the 2015, 2019, and 2023 World Cups, would provide Wales with a strong, experienced option for the next global tournament. "I can't speak for his personal goals, but I'm pretty sure he will want to give it a go and represent Wales at another World Cup," Van Zyl said.