WALES BACK ROW Ross Moriarty will make the move to the Dragons from Gloucester for the start of the 2018-19 season on a two-year deal.
Ross Moriarty in action for the Lions in June. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
The signing is a coup for coach Bernard Jackman as Moriarty becomes his first major signing with the Dragons.
The 23-year-old’s move comes ahead of the 2019 World Cup with the Welsh Rugby Union having implemented a new selection policy that means players not based in Wales must have more than 60 caps to be eligible to play.
The news that Moriarty, who has won 17 caps for Wales, is making the switch comes after last week’s announcement that Welsh winger George North is to leave Northampton and return to Wales at the end of the season on a national dual contract.
It is not yet known which of the four Welsh regions that North will join.
“After meeting with Bernard Jackman, I was excited by the future plans of the club as the region looks to begin a new chapter in its history,” stated Moriarty.
“Playing international rugby is the pinnacle of every player’s career and with the new rules, it left me with no choice but to move to Wales to further my international ambitions, especially with the Rugby World Cup ahead.”
Ross Moriarty tackles Johnny Sexton in last March's Six Nations meeting. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
“It’s a significant signing and a real reinforcement of how players are perceiving this region now,” stated Jackman.
“He is the perfect fit for us in terms of the type of player that we are looking to add to our squad in that he is young, ambitious, Welsh and very talented.
Dragons coach Bernard Jackman. CameraSport / Simon King/INPHO
CameraSport / Simon King/INPHO / Simon King/INPHO
“We are building a team for the long term and to be able to get a player of Ross’s calibre, who is only 23, is an example of that.
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Lions back row to join Dragons as Bernard Jackman makes first major signing
WALES BACK ROW Ross Moriarty will make the move to the Dragons from Gloucester for the start of the 2018-19 season on a two-year deal.
The signing is a coup for coach Bernard Jackman as Moriarty becomes his first major signing with the Dragons.
The 23-year-old’s move comes ahead of the 2019 World Cup with the Welsh Rugby Union having implemented a new selection policy that means players not based in Wales must have more than 60 caps to be eligible to play.
The news that Moriarty, who has won 17 caps for Wales, is making the switch comes after last week’s announcement that Welsh winger George North is to leave Northampton and return to Wales at the end of the season on a national dual contract.
It is not yet known which of the four Welsh regions that North will join.
Moriarty also toured New Zealand with the Lions this summer but suffered a back injury in the opening game that ruled him out for the remainder of the action.
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“After meeting with Bernard Jackman, I was excited by the future plans of the club as the region looks to begin a new chapter in its history,” stated Moriarty.
“Playing international rugby is the pinnacle of every player’s career and with the new rules, it left me with no choice but to move to Wales to further my international ambitions, especially with the Rugby World Cup ahead.”
“It’s a significant signing and a real reinforcement of how players are perceiving this region now,” stated Jackman.
“He is the perfect fit for us in terms of the type of player that we are looking to add to our squad in that he is young, ambitious, Welsh and very talented.
“We are building a team for the long term and to be able to get a player of Ross’s calibre, who is only 23, is an example of that.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
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