The 31-year-old could feature in Steve Tandy’s first Wales squad, having fallen out of favour under Warren GatlandRoss Moriarty in action for the Ospreys(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)

Ross Moriarty insists he’s not thinking of a Wales recall, having returned home after falling back in love with rugby in France.

The 31-year-old hasn’t featured for Wales since the 2022 Six Nations, having fallen out of favour with Warren Gatland. However, with Gatland gone after his disastrous second spell, replaced by Steve Tandy, there’s every chance Moriarty could add to his 54 caps this autumn when Tandy names his first Wales squad next week.

However, despite a solid start to the season with the Ospreys, Moriarty insists a Wales recall isn’t on his mind.

“I’ve come home to play for the Ospreys and enjoy my rugby,” says Moriarty. “That’s what I’ve been doing.

“Whatever else happens outside of that is not in my control. I just want to enjoy playing rugby now.

“I’ve been doing that with the Ospreys. We’ll see what happens when it comes to it.”

Moriarty has come full circle this summer, joining his home region Ospreys after a spell with Brive. His stint in France helped the former Dragons back-row rediscover his love for rugby, having swapped Welsh rugby’s goldfish bowl for the altogether different intensity that French club rugby offers.

“I’d always wanted to play in France and it didn’t disappoint,” he said. “It was great.

“It was a great place, a great town. Everyone was really in it for the rugby. I had missed that and while I was there, I think I got back the love of the game again and why I do it.

“It was a great experience. Rugby was like a religion there. We would average about 10 or 11,000 fans throughout the season and 15,500 for big games.

“When you lost you really felt around the town and outside of training. It was full-on.

“But I got to play with some amazing players, young guys who have since gone to top clubs and a lot of ex-internationals. Courtney Lawes came last season, who I’d played with on the Lions tour.

“It’s a different style of rugby. It’s very physical, but very expansive. It’s tough, but it’s enjoyable when it goes well.

“I’ve played in every top league in Europe now. I think it’s definitely expanded my game again, with how loose and open it can be.

“That’s brilliant to have in your back pocket, being able to not be bogged down by structure all the time. That definitely changed my way of playing rugby and I get more enjoyment out of it now.”

Even with the Ospreys’ move to St Helen’s delayed until next season, the latest chapter in the British and Irish Lion’s career represents something of a homecoming.

Moriarty began his rugby journey in the Ospreys’ academy before heading to Gloucester, even playing his first match for the Cherry and Whites against the Ospreys in 2012.

And, of course, his father is none other than former Swansea and Wales back-row Paul.

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.”

* Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here for all the breaking news.

You can also follow us on social media on our X account, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

For more exclusive stories and in-depth analysis, you can sign up for the Inside Welsh Rugby substack newsletter here.