Taulupe Faletau: Forward may prosper outside Wales - Guscott

Taulupe Faletau toured Australia with the British and Irish Lions in 2013

Taulupe Faletau's trophy ambitions may be better served playing outside Wales, says ex-England centre Jeremy Guscott.

Newport Gwent Dragons' Wales number eight Faletau, 24, has been linked with English Premiership runners-up Bath, Guscott's old club.

Cardiff Blues have made an offer for Faletau but Guscott said: "European-wise the regions have really struggled.

"If you want to win silverware there isn't a real harm in leaving the country you represent."

Wales' George North left Scarlets in 2013 for English Premiership club Northampton Saints and Guscott said North has made a good decision.

Guscott added: "We've seen how close Northampton's George North has already in two seasons come to silverware and trophies, both domestically and in Europe."

Faletau has a year left on his Dragons contract but could be bought out of that deal, with speculation the region could ask for as much as £250,000.

Jeremy Guscott spent 16 years with home town club Bath

Tongan-born Faletau had his offer of a national dual contract withdrawn by the Welsh Rugby Union in May.

The 24-year-old said at the time that changing his agent had "delayed" signing a dual contract, which would be co-funded by the WRU and the region.

It is possible Faletau, capped 45 times by Wales, will join Bath after this autumn's World Cup, while Blues are awaiting a reply from the player's agent after making their offer.

Guscott, who toured three times with the British and Irish Lions, says his former club Bath would be a good team for Faletau to join.

"I go down to watch Bath six or seven times a season and if he comes down here I may go down even more," Guscott told BBC Radio Wales.

"I think his style will complement Bath. He's one hell of an athlete that we don't see running much with a ball as often as I would like when he puts on the red of Wales.

"The brand of rugby that Bath play, he will get ever opportunity to show us and the world what else he's got."