Five Premiership clubs weighing up move for British & Irish Lion
WHANGAREI, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 03: Ross Moriarty of the Lions breaks with the ball during the match between the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians and the British & Irish Lions at Toll Stadium on June 3, 2017 in Whangarei, New Zealand. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
LIONS back rower Ross Moriarty is at the centre of a three-nation tug of war after winning the appeal against his salary valuation with the Welsh Rugby Union.
Moriarty, 25, who is out of contract this summer with Dragons has been looked at by Leicester Tigers, Exeter Chiefs, Northampton Saints and Bath over the last couple of months.
While the flanker has also attracted the interest of big-spending French sides, Lyon, Montpellier and Toulon. But Wales boss Wayne Pivac has made it clear he wants him to stay in Principality.
The Dragons are keen to keep him at Rodney Parade, but now the Ospreys and the Blues are interested as the governing body will be picking up the tab for 80 per cent of his wages.
It is still possible that clubs in the Premiership and France, who have much bigger pockets, could outbid the Welsh regions and lure the St Helens-born Moriarty away from South Wales.
The former Gloucester star, who helped Wales finish fourth at the World Cup, is going to be carefully weighing up his options over the next few weeks before reaching a final decision.
NEIL FISSLER / Title Image: Getty Images
