The Dragons are close to making a huge statement of intent by luring Wales and Lions star Ross Moriarty to Rodney Parade.

He is set to meet with coach Bernard Jackman on Friday afternoon, with the perennial strugglers of Welsh professional rugby hoping to convince the 23-year-old to put pen to paper amid suggestions they have all but won the battle for his signature.

Cardiff Blues haven’t given up hope that the youngster will have an 11th-hour change of heart and commit to them, while the Scarlets have also been serious players in the hunt for Moriarty.

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But the Dragons have emerged as shock favourites to land one of British and Irish rugby’s brightest forward prospects.

The detail of any deal on the table is unclear, but the probability is it will involve a national dual contract.

That in itself has scope to provoke controversy given that the Dragons are owned by the Welsh Rugby Union. If Moriarty signs for the east Wales team, the other regions will presumably be keen to be appraised of the clinching factors that persuaded him to head to Newport rather than, say, to Llanelli and play for Guinness PRO14 champions the Scarlets.

That said, Jackman has pointed the Dragons in the right direction this season and it is understood Moriarty has been impressed with both him and his vision for the region.

The Gloucester-based back rower is having to consider playing senior rugby for a region for the first time, with the Welsh Rugby Union’s new 60-cap selection rule for exiled players meaning he either hitches his star to one of the four Welsh professional sides or sees a handbrake applied to his Test career.

Out of contract in the summer, he had been trailed by a number of leading sides in the Aviva Premiership and in the Top 14 prior to the union announcing their fresh decree.

Some of those sides were pretty much willing to pay the big-tackling and defence-busting Moriarty his weight in gold to join them, but he has had to revise his plans.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

The Dragons have since sold him their ambition and made clear they are prepared to back it up with a competitive offer for the 17-cap player.

They have still to get the deal over the line, but at this point they look likeliest to have the highly-prized Moriarty in their ranks for next season.