Wales international Ross Moriarty set for home return with Welsh region linked
Welsh international Ross Moriarty could reportedly return to Wales with the forward set to leave French side Brive this summer.
The 30-year-old moved to France in 2022 and quickly proved a popular addition to the Brive squad, winning multiple awards for his performances in the Pro D2.
However, after three years, Moriarty - who is set to return from injury next month after five months on the sidelines - could be heading for the exit door. According to a report from RugbyPass, Brive are open to letting some of their top players leave as part of cost-cutting and restructuring measures, with the Welshman among that group.
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As for where the powerful No.8 goes next, it has been suggested that he could return to the UK, with two of his former clubs - namely the Dragons and Premiership side Gloucester - reportedly keen on securing his signature again. Moriarty, who was born in St Helens but grew up in Swansea, began his career with the Cherry & Whites in 2012 before moving to the Dragons six years later.
Of course, there is also chance that the 55-cap international could remain in France, with Racing 92 previously linked with the back row. But a return to Wales would likely prove popular with Welsh fans who are in need of something to smile about and there is an outside chance it could even lead to a potential international comeback.
Moriarty's last game for Wales came under Wayne Pivac in 2022 but was invited into camp ahead of the Rugby World Cup the following year, only to turn that down to show his commitment to Brive. His cap tally means that he has remained eligible for international selection throughout his time in France, but he has still not been selected with Wales having decent depth in their back row.
With Warren Gatland's time with Wales now hanging by a thread, however, Moriarty may not have necessarily played his last game for his country.
Discussing what happened with his Test career on the SportIn Wales podcast recently, the Welshman said: "The last World Cup I did get asked if I would be open to coming to the camp. At that time, I had only really just arrived at Brive. I came here at the end of the Top 14 season Brive were in.
"I would have been away for a long time with the Welsh camp. Obviously I may or may not have been involved in the squad to go to the World Cup, and I just thought, 'I've only just arrived at Brive'. I just wanted to show that I was fully committed to the team.
"It was a tough decision. But for me to come to France, I wanted to let them know that I was here to do a job for the club and that was it at that time," he added.
"I was in and around the [Wales] squad. We were kind of going through that transition, we were trying new players. I had quite a lot of injuries as well, which didn't help me. I wasn't really fit for long periods of time. That probably didn't help my cause really, keeping myself in that squad.
"My last match was against Italy, we all know what happened with that. We lost, and that was the last time I played for Wales. After the end of that season, I came to France to play."
