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Bernard Jackman has turned his attention to George North after bagging Ross Moriarty from Gloucester in a sensational transfer coup for the ambitious Dragons.

Former Ireland and Leinster hooker Jackman hopes the showpiece signing of Moriarty will lead to a flood of big names following the Lions and Wales back-row powerhouse to Rodney Parade.

The Dragons boss wants to bring in 12 new faces for next season and is ready to talk to North, who has signed a contract with the WRU to return home from Aviva Premiership Northampton Saints.

Lions and Wales wing North has to decide on which region he wants to join but he has strong ties in Gwent with his girlfriend, Olympic silver medallist and multi-world champion track cyclist Becky James, hailing from Abergavenny.

Dragons are the latest to register an interest in North with Cardiff Blues having been the first to go public in their pursuit of the 25-year-old.

Jackman said he would discuss the future of the 69-times Wales capped finisher with Dragons’ majority owners the Welsh Rugby Union but admitted: “I would like to speak him.

“I haven’t had any discussions with the union yet but we would definitely be interested in any top-class player like George who wants to come back to Wales.

“We will definitely discuss that over the next month or so and see if it’s something that’s interesting,” he told the South Wales Argus .

“I would like to explain to him what we are doing here – we have definitely turned around our medical care and our strength and conditioning, we are getting some new recruits in and if he wants a challenge, we certainly have an exciting one for him here.”

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

Jackman, in an interview with Walesonline, said the introduction of the 60-cap rule for Wales selection by the WRU offered opportunities to recruit with Wales scrum-half Rhodri Williams leaving Bristol for the Dragons at the end of the campaign.

“I’ve been targeting exiles, that’s not a secret, and when I speak to them their mindset has changed based on that rule. They want to come back and play in Wales to try and play international rugby,” he went on.

“From my experience in Ireland, that works. Very few Irish players leave and international rugby has a really strong hold on players.

“It’s a really good rule that will potentially benefit us. If it doesn’t benefit us then it will benefit the Ospreys, Scarlets or Cardiff Blues.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

“We want the regions being really strong and the best players playing for them so that the fans can come and see some of our homegrown internationals like Elliot Dee and Leon Brown at Rodney Parade.

“If we can attract a couple more from outside then that’s great. I’d like current internationals playing for the Dragons, helping us win and buying into what we do.”

And Jackman insisted his employer the WRU aren't giving the Dragons an unfair advantage over their regional rivals in the transfer market following their summer takeover of the region.

“The WRU can help us be competitive, but what I don’t agree with is that by helping the Dragons that deprives anyone else,” he rapped.

“We should have internal competition and if I was another region I’d be saying ‘great, let’s get better ourselves’ rather than crying about it.

“Why is anyone worried about the Dragons being strong? We want to be strong, let’s not be shy about that.

“Some people don’t want to hear that but we as a region want to be strong so obviously we are trying to get players.”

As to calls for the Dragons to explain how they can afford the likes of Moriarty, he said: “We have a limited amount of money and how we spend it is our own business. We are starting to recruit people and some people don’t like that.”

Gatland said it was North’s decision which region to join once it became clear who wanted his prized signature.

“It is down to him – there was no pressure on George after he made the decision to come back,” he stressed.