ROSS Moriarty's Dragons future remains up in the air but the Wales forward believes new boss Dean Ryan is getting the best out of him.

The 25-year-old back rower headed for Rodney Parade from Gloucester in the summer of 2018 when he was then head coach Bernard Jackman's marquee signing.

His two-year contract expires at the end of the current campaign and the 2017 Lions tourist has been linked with the Ospreys along with a move to England.

Leicester are the latest team that are said to be monitoring the situation but if Moriarty was to accept a lucrative return to the Gallagher Premiership then it would mean putting his Test career on hold.

The back row forward is poised to win his 43rd cap against Ireland in the Six Nations on Saturday and will finish the season short of the 60-cap figure required to be eligible when playing outside of Wales.

South Wales Argus:

When asked if he knew when his contract for next season would be sorted, Moriarty said: "I can't really answer that question to be honest with you.

"I will leave that with my agents and my father (former Wales international Paul, his representative). I try not to get involved in it, that's the best way"

If Moriarty turns down English offers to remain in Wales then he will be on the list of 38 chosen Test players under a new funding model.

The Welsh Rugby Union will foot 80 per cent of the wage bill for those internationals and that makes retaining the powerhouse back rower an attractive proposition for the Dragons, who have a tight budget.

Moriarty has played 17 games for the Rodney Parade region – to go along with the 22 Test outings since being on the Dragons' books – and was in impressive form before the Six Nations.

The hard-hitting forward returned from the World Cup with a virus but then led the charge to help the Dragons beat the Scarlets and Ospreys and qualify for the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup.

South Wales Argus:

"Dean has been really good for us this season, he came in and has done a really good job," said Moriarty.

"It's the same as with the new coaches here with Wales – he has got along with the players, he has got good relationships and really good knowledge.

"I have enjoyed the way that he wants us to play rugby and I think that showed over the block of games over Christmas.

"I felt that I was back to my old self and was just going out there and really enjoying my rugby. Dean plays quite fluent rugby and it's enjoyable to play.

"Now we have got Sam Davies and he has been doing well for us; he has picked up a lot of man of the match awards and has been a big part in what the team has done.

"Dean has made a lot of players who maybe weren't doing so well into better players, and that shows that he is a good coach."