mobanmarketBritish & Irish Lion and Wales international back-row Ross Moriarty has left the Dragons with immediate effect to join Top 14 side Brive.
The 28-year-old has spent five years with the Welsh region making 54 appearances since joining from Gloucester in 2018.
Sad to leave
“I’m sad to be leaving Dragons RFC after five seasons in Newport, but this is an opportunity that I feel I have to take at this time for myself and my young family,” Moriarty commented in a statement from Dragons confirming his departure.
“I leave with many happy memories of my time as a Dragon, and I have made lifelong friends within the squad.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved with the club for their support, especially Dai Flanagan for his understanding with the decision I have made.
Moriarty has played 35 times for Wales, meaning he should still be eligible to be selected for the Test team despite plying his trade abroad.
He joins Brive, who are currently ranked last on the Top 14 standings and could face relegation to the PRO D2. The side is nine points behind 13th-placed Perpignan and 11 points shy of Pau, who are currently just outside the relegation zone.
Moriarty joins Brive as a ‘medical joker’ for the injured Tevita Ratuva but has committed to the French side until the end of the 2024/25 season.
Dragons’ dissapointment
Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan expressed his disappointment in Moriarty’s departure but paid tribute to what he had done for the side.
“We’re obviously disappointed to be losing a player of the quality of Ross after we offered him the best possible terms we could to remain with us,” Flanagan said.
“I have always enjoyed a strong relationship with Ross and would like to thank him for his honesty and professionalism throughout what I know has been a difficult decision for him.
“Ross has made a huge impact at Dragons over the last five seasons, captaining the side on several occasions, giving absolutely everything to the cause and being a fantastic role model to the younger players around him.
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“Ross and his young family now have a new opportunity overseas and they leave us with our very best wishes for the future. He will always be welcomed back at Rodney Parade.”
Wales exodus
The 28-year-old follows Will Rowlands, Max Llewellyn and Joe Hawkins in leaving the Welsh regional scene.
He is set to be followed by Cardiff fly-half Jarrod Evans who is rumoured to be off to Harlequins. Prop Dillon Lewis is also expected to leave Wales for the Premiership at the end of the season.
Ospreys flanker Ethan Roots joins Hawkins in signing for Exeter Chiefs, while the Scarlets are set to lose Sione Kalamafoni and Tomas Lezana.
Kalamafoni has signed for PRO D2 side Vannes and Lezana for Motauban in the same league.
Prop Javan Sebastian is also set to leave Scarlets at the end of the season to join Edinburgh.
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