Bath risk fine for allowing Taulupe Faletau to play for Wales v South Africa

Taulupe Faletau won his 69th cap for Wales in Saturday's loss to New Zealand

Bath admit they are risking a sanction by Premiership Rugby for allowing number eight Taulupe Faletau to play for Wales against South Africa.

The policy for English clubs is not to release players for Tests outside World Rugby's international window.

While most of Wales' England-based contingent have returned to their clubs, Faletau has stayed with Wales.

In 2013, Northampton were fined £60,000 for releasing George North to play against Australia.

Premiership Rugby has confirmed the same policy remains in place but Bath want changes to the schedule to limit such clashes between the club and international game.

"We continue to support the objective of resolving the club and international calendar for the benefit of players, clubs and unions, which would prevent this being an issue in the future," a Bath spokesperson told BBC Sport.

Bath head coach Todd Blackadder admits Bath expect some sort of punishment.

"I am sure they will enforce some type of penalty on us," he said.

"That is the type of thing we have to live with. We possibly knew that and something we have to deal with.

"It's something we agreed to and we stand by that. It's another good reason to get the international windows right.

"We play four matches without our internationals which is not ideal. In the southern hemisphere they are trying to change the window."

Premiership Rugby are currently in consultation with the Rugby Players' Association concerning the domestic calendar post-2019.

The clubs are pushing for a 10-month campaign to reduce overlaps, a move which has been rejected by the players' union, although it is understood progress has been made of late to resolve the impasse.

Tight-head prop Scott Andrews, on loan at Bath from Cardiff Blues, is also available for Wales.

His availability is timely as Wales are without fellow tight-head Tomas Francis following his return to Exeter.

Wales will also be without fly-half Rhys Priestland, who is back with Bath.

Owen Williams and Tomas Francis expect to be with their English clubs when Wales face South Africa

With Francis back with Exeter and Scarlets' Samson Lee troubled by an Achilles injury, there was a chance 21-year-old Dragons prop Leon Brown would be the only Wales tight-head available from the four who have been in the squad this autumn.

The sport's rules state a specialist tight-head must be on the bench for safety reasons.

Brown was at the centre of controversy in Wales' 18 November win against Georgia.

He was unable to re-enter the fray for a late scrum after Francis had been sin-binned because of cramp in his calf muscles.

Andrews' availability is a boost for Wales and, according to former captain and flanker Martyn Williams, Faletau's inclusion will be a major lift as well.

"He [Faletau] is world-class so if he can stay then it's just a massive boost for Wales and everyone in the squad," he told BBC Sport Wales.

"The back row is actually one area that has gone really well. Faletau, Josh Navidi has been outstanding and Aaron Shingler has gone well and we have Justin Tipuric coming back [from injury] as well, so that's another boost.

"But when you lose the likes of Liam Williams and Jonathan Davies, who are our other world-class players, during the campaign, it's a huge boost to be able to keep Toby."

Wales will also be without centre Owen Williams against the Springboks, as Gloucester host London Irish in the Aviva Premiership on the same day.

"I'm going back to Gloucester. I knew this before playing against New Zealand," said former Scarlets and Leicester player Williams.

Wales' team management have said throughout the autumn that Faletau would be available against the Springboks, and now Bath have confirmed this is the case.

Faletau is understood to have negotiated full-release for international matches when he joined the West Country club when he joined them from Dragons in 2016.

During the autumn Wales have lost to both the All Blacks and Australia while narrowly beating Georgia, and will be looking to sign off on a high by claiming the scalp of South Africa.

South Africa have their own prop concerns with Tendai Mtawarira a doubt with the groin injury he suffered against Italy last weekend.

However, hooker Malcolm Marx (shoulder) and flanker Siya Kolisi - who was attending the birth of his second child - are back in training.

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee is without forwards Francois Louw, Duane Vermeulen and Franco Mostert, who are all based overseas and as a result are not available for the fixture because it falls outside of the international window.

Wales' English-based players

Forwards: Tomas Francis (Exeter), Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues, on-loan at Bath), Taulupe Faletau (Bath).

Backs: Rhys Priestland (Bath), Owen Williams (Gloucester), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Liam Williams (Saracens - injured).