Wales back-rower Ross Moriarty has been linked with a return to the Gallagher Premiership amid the current uncertainty in Welsh rugby.
The Dragons star, who has won 56 caps for his country, is out of contract at the end of the current campaign, having joined the Rodney Parade side from Gloucester in 2018. The contract freeze in Welsh rugby means that several players - including Moriarty - are being forced to consider their future as new deals can't currently be offered to players.
And, the 2017 Lions tourist, who has been in superb form this year, is attracting several potential suitors.
The Rugby Paper report that Exeter Chiefs and Northampton are interested in Moriarty, with the former losing England No. 8 Sam Simmonds to Montpellier in the summer. French clubs Stade Francais and Bayonne are also believed to be interested.
The 28-year-old is understood to be happy in Newport, with his family settled in the area - providing hope that the Dragons can hold onto him.
The fact that Moriarty cannot reach 60 caps, having been overlooked for Wales' autumn and Six Nations squads, means that were he to leave Wales this year, he wouldn't be eligible to play Test rugby any more. That would rule him out of the World Cup and could be a carrot that proves crucial to convincing Moriarty to stay for at least another year.
Wales coach Warren Gatland, who capped Moriarty back in 2015, has emphasised the door isn't closed on his Test career.
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“Ross had come back from injury and he is starting to put some good performances together,” he said.
“The message to a number of players that have found themselves out of the squad is that it doesn’t mean they are out of contention. Ross is a good example of that, as are Owen Watkin and Nicky Smith. Just because you are not there at the moment doesn’t mean you are out of contention going forward."
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