Taulupe Faletau: Bath and Wales wait on number eight's injury

Taulupe Faletau has played 70 times for Wales

Bath are awaiting news on the severity of the knee injury suffered by Taulupe Faletau in their 24-20 loss in Toulon.

The Wales and British and Irish Lions number eight was hurt in the 48th minute of the European Champions' Cup match on Saturday.

Faletau, 27, missed much of last season with ligament injuries and Todd Blackadder hopes it is not a repeat.

"I hope it's not the same knee as he injured last season, but it doesn't look good," said the Bath coach.

"It looked like there was a ruck, he came in from the side and Toby tweaked his medial. It doesn't look good, not for next week anyway."

Faletau is unlikely to be fit for the return match against Toulon and the news will also be a big concern for Wales coach Warren Gatland.

He is already without 2017 Lions Sam Warburton and Jonathan Davies for the Six Nations Championship, which starts on 3 February.

Faletau and Warburton made up two thirds of the Lions back-row in the drawn Test series against New Zealand in July.

Warburton has had knee surgery, while centre Davies is out for the season after surgery on an ankle.

Gatland is also likely to be without Jake Ball at the start of the tournament, after the Scarlets lock dislocated his shoulder in Wales' defeat by the All Blacks in November.