Six English clubs are chasing the gifted Welsh youngster who has been likened to Justin Tipuric.
European champions Saracens, who have snapped up Rhys Carre from Cardiff Blues and Sam Wainwright from RGC 1404 in recent months, are said to be near the head of the queue for Taine Basham as he heads towards the end of his contract at the Dragons.
Five other top Gallagher Premiership sides are also interested in the dynamic back-rower who turned heads at last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship with a series of exceptional displays.
Operating at No. 8, the then 18-year-old carried the ball 17 times against Australia, repeatedly surging clear off the back of the scrum, and achieved four turnovers.
Basham also scored a hat-trick of tries in Wales U20s’ 42-12 win over Italy in the 2019 Six Nations.
Now half the English top flight are understood to be on his trail, with a source who is close to Basham saying: "Six top Gallagher Premiership clubs have enquired about Taine."
Those words underline the size of the fight Welsh rugby is set to have to retain Basham.
His representative Gareth Maule, from Esportif, said: “Naturally talented youngsters are always going to attract interest from big clubs.
“And Taine is naturally talented.
“But he’s also under contract at the Dragons until the end of the season and fully committed to them."
The 6ft, 14st 13lb Basham was likened to Wales and Ospreys flanker Tipuric by former Dragons coach Bernard Jackman, who said during his time at Rodney Parade: “Taine is a gifted boy.
“We have seen him make people look silly in training. He can beat people for fun. He’s very quick and very elusive, with good offloading skills.
“His skill-set is pretty unique. Not many back rowers have that.
“He is very much like Justin Tipuric to my mind. He has similar traits.
“He’s got that little bit of magic that makes you go ‘wow, that is brilliant’.”
Jackman believed the Talywain product could operate as a No. 7 or as an explosive No. 8, arguing that he had the skills for both positions.
The Dragons have an embarrassment of riches in the back row with a pool that includes Ross Moriarty, Aaron Wainwright, Ollie Griffiths, Nic Cudd, Lennon Greggains and Basham, with the tough, unflashy Greggains another teenager who is rated highly.
While injury hampered Greggains at the U20 Championship in Argentina, respected judges feel he has the potential to emerge as a serious player in the seasons ahead.
But, right now, 19-year-old Basham is the one who is commanding attention.
He is said to enjoy playing for the Dragons and the appointment of Dean Ryan as director of rugby has provided a lift to morale at Rodney Parade, but wealthy English clubs are circling.
