Ross Moriarty has agreed a new contract with the Dragons, ending months of speculation about his future.
Just last weekend it was reported the Wales back rower was at the centre of a three-nation tug-of-war for his services. Four clubs in the English Premiership were linked to him, along with French Top 14 outfits Lyon, Montpellier and Toulon.
And in Wales his region the Dragons faced competition for his services from the Ospreys, with Cardiff Blues also being mentioned as potential suitors.
But Moriarty has opted to stay put, providing Welsh rugby and the Rodney Parade region with a major boost.
The Dragons had seen Cory Hill commit to the Blues this week, and losing another international might have been viewed as careless. But it hasn’t worked out that way.
Wayne Pivac will be pleased as the outcome means Moriarty will continue to be eligible for Wales, rather than placed off limits under the rule affecting exiled Welsh players who have fewer than 60 caps.
The 25-year-old blindside or No. 8 had successfully appealed against his original valuation by a Welsh rugby panel, strengthening the hopes of those who wanted him to stay on the regional scene.
Under the scheme, after a valuation is agreed, no Welsh region can outbid another for a player.
So Moriarty has made a rugby decision to stay in Newport.
It is believed the Welsh Rugby Union will pay 80 per cent of his wages, with the Lion from 2017 one of the elite 38 players in Wales.
The Dean Ryan factor is one of the key reasons why he’s sticking around.
Moriarty has been hugely impressed by the Dragons director of rugby and feels he and the team can improve under the Englishman.
He also felt a debt of gratitude to the region’s chairman David Buttress for bringing him to Rodney Parade in the first place.
Also key to his decision to stay was the fact that he has friends at the Dragons, including Sam Davies, with whom he grew up, and he enjoys the region’s training methods.
Vibes earlier in the week had suggested the Ospreys had given up on their efforts to lure Moriarty. However, it’s been clear for the past fortnight that his sights were set on staying with the Dragons if he could secure agreement over his valuation.
Once that came about, a move away from Newport always appeared unlikely.
