Ross Moriarty: ‘I fell back in love with rugby in France’

Signing for Ospreys is a homecoming for Moriarty, the son of former Swansea back-row Paul who grew up in the city and took his first steps in rugby with the region’s academy before forging his professional career at Gloucester.

“It’s quite funny that I’ve come full circle,” he said.

“I always had an ambition to play for the Ospreys, but it didn’t go that way for me at the time (at the academy), he said.

“This is where I’m from, my family, my wife, so it makes sense. It’s great to be back.”

Moriarty has started all three United Rugby Championship fixtures so far this season, impressed with a typically aggressive performances that could fit new Wales head Steve Tandy’s approach.

The 31-year-old insists Wales selection – Tandy names his autumn squad next week – is not his focus.

But having rediscovered his spark, selection would mark an impressive return for the back-row more than three years since he won the last of his 54 caps.