GLOUCESTER’S British and Irish Lion Ross Moriarty’s move to Welsh region the Dragons is ‘a done deal’, say leading sources there.

The Cherry and Whites number eight, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is involved in a tug-of-war for his services.

The new Welsh Rugby Union rule that international stars must play for a region inside the Principality to be considered for Test match selection if they have less than sixty caps to their name – Moriarty currently has 17 appearances – means he must leave Kingsholm or give up his Test career.

Gloucester would like him to renew his contract but, while he would probably put pen to paper at a club where he has spent his entire professional career, if he could play for Wales, he is heading back, according to the sources.

Moriarty and his father Paul, the former dual code rugby union and rugby league international, were seen at the Celtic Manor Resort hotel in Newport last Friday afternoon where Paul asked his son if he had ‘rang Bernard (Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman) yet’ as the Gloucester back row, dressed in training gear, got into his car.

And while Jackman said after that night’s Anglo-Welsh match between the Dragons and Scarlets that nothing has been signed with them, a source at the region confirmed: “It’s a done deal.”

The chase for Moriarty over the Bridge is hot with the Dragons and Pro14 reigning champions the Scarlets both wanting him.

But the Dragons have the considerable backing of the WRU, who took them over last summer and would probably offer Moriarty a National Dual Contract, in which they pay 60 per cent of his deal, to move to Newport.

Additionally, Moriarty is settled in Gloucester, with a house there, and so an hour’s travel down the Wye Valley to Newport compared with either upping sticks and moving to West Wales or a 220-mile round trip from Gloucester to join the Scarlets, would be a big lure.

Jackman said: “Out of respect for all the teams who want to sign Ross, he will want to meet everybody. He is definitely going to listen to what they have to say.

“Unfortunately, we have no positive news. Maybe Scarlets have positive news. If we were able to sign him, we would be singing about it – we wouldn’t be trying to keep it quiet.”

Jackman was rumoured to be meeting Moriarty at the Celtic Manor last Friday afternoon but the Dragons head coach said he was not there, hence, possibly, the question from Paul to his son in the car park.

“I did not meet him. I was at a local golf club giving a talk to teachers,” said Jackman.

“This is going to play out. We have sold (to Moriarty) what this (the Dragons) are about and I am sure other clubs have. The fact that we are being linked with him is irrelevant until we or someone else has his signature.”

Meanwhile, Gloucester coach Johann Ackermann is quoted as asking Moriarty to speak to him about a new contract. However, the number eight tweeted: “I don’t recall in my last contract for Gloucester that I was supposed to go and ask for a new one.”