ON THE BLINDSIDE
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Wales back row Ross Moriarty could return to the Premiership next season with Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints bidding for his services.
The St Helens-born 2017 Lions tourist, who will be 29 in April, made 73 appearances for Gloucester before joining the Dragons in 2018.
The former England U18 and U20 international is out of contract at the end of the season and faces an uncertain future at Rodney Parade as a funding row between the regional sides, and the WRU rumbles on. The Dragons fear they could be forced to lose Moriarty, who has been capped 56 times by Wales, because they cannot afford to offer new deals.
They are continuing to work on an agreement with their Cardiff-based paymasters, fearing a mass exodus of talent to the Premiership and France if one isn't struck soon.
The Chiefs are losing England and Lions No.8 Sam Simmonds to Montpellier in the summer and Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has a long-standing interest in Moriarty, whose father Paul played for Wales in both codes.
Moriarty, who has played 15 times for the Dragons this season and extended his deal to remain in Newport in 2020, is also on the shopping list for a couple of Top 14 outfits.
Stade Francais were disappointed when he stayed in south Wales three years ago and are again keen to acquire his services, while Bayonne are another club from across the Channel interested.
