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Wales Online
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Steffan Thomas

Ross Moriarty among 12 Dragons stars to 'agree' new deals as he's set to shun lucrative French move to stay in Wales

The Dragons expect Ross Moriarty to turn his back on a lucrative move to France and sign a new contract to remain in Wales.

As previously revealed by WalesOnline, Moriarty had been offered a big money contract by Top 14 outfit Bayonne while former European champions Exeter Chiefs are also interested in acquiring his services.

Given the contractual freeze at the four Welsh regions, along with the fact player wages are set to be cut dramatically next season, many expected Moriarty to chase the money in France or Japan.

READ MORE: Rugby boss urges Wales' grassroots clubs to vote for change and insists their own funding will never be cut

But Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan has revealed the 28-year-old is one of 12 players who the club have offered a new contract to for next season.

"We've offered 12 verbal contracts," said Flanagan. "We've offered an email which gives them terms and conditions. We've offered the contract paper and we haven't had one player say no.

"It will be news very soon, I'm very sure.

"There's 12 players we've offered contracts to who are extremely important to keep to build continuity and the language they are all using is very positive.

"I'm extremely confident. He's (Moriarty) one of the 12. The noises are very encouraging, yes."

Flanagan also inferred Moriarty and the other 11 players in question had agreed terms on new contracts to remain at Rodney Parade beyond the end of the season.

"I can't elaborate too much on it because I'm not the expert in the field," he said.

"I think the contract goes to the player, then goes to the club, then goes to a clearing house to make sure with this new centralised contracting every region signs the same contract.

"So, from our half and the players' half we are pretty much done we just have to wait for that clearance house to make sure everything is legitimate and done correctly."

The 54 times capped Moriarty was a shock omission from Warren Gatland's Six Nations squad with many experts insisting Wales missed his physicality in the close quarter collisions.

And Flanagan insisted the Dragons was the best place to give Moriarty the best platform to force his way back into the Wales reckoning.

"The conversations I've had with Ross have all been extremely positive," said Flanagan.

"He knows and believes in the way he's been treated here and what he gets. Everyone has had to take the financial package that's out there.

"Money is important but sometimes the environment is important and hopefully we can see with the amount of games Ross has played this year, it's the most he's played since he's turned up at the Dragons in one season.

"He still harbours massive ambitions to play for Wales. Even though he can do it if he leaves Wales he knows his best opportunity to perform best at national level is probably to stay in Wales.

"That's what we can provide for him. It's extremely positive and hopefully we can get some news out shortly on all 12."

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