NEWPORT Gwent Dragons will make a bumper offer to returning Lions hero Toby Faletau in a bid to keep him in the region.

The 22-year-old is one of the hottest properties in world rugby and his profile soared with a sensational performance in the Lions’ series-winning Third Test success against Australia.

Faletau is out of contract at the end of the 2013/14 season but the region believe retaining the services of their talisman is key to their development both on and off the field.

They will talk to the 26-times capped number eight from Pontypool and his representatives when he returns from Down Under.

Faletau is already on the radar of big clubs in England and France, with Bath said to be leading the chase.

It is a familiar tale for Dragons fans, who have seen Luke Charteris, Aled Brew and Dan Lydiate lured away from Rodney Parade in recent years.

But the region are hopeful that they can keep Faletau in Gwent, both by offering him a good deal and by stressing their ambition under new director of rugby Lyn Jones.

Chief executive Chris Brown said: “Toby’s importance to us is two-fold – what he can do on the pitch and the profile that he brings us.

“When he gets back and has had a well-deserved rest I will be having a chat with Toby.

“Will he stay? I don’t know, but I am hopeful and we will be giving him a proper offer.

“Whether he does stay could be down to what is out there but we will give him a really good option.

“Toby was brilliant on Saturday and made everyone here so proud and we will do everything we can to keep him at the Dragons.”

The Dragons copped plenty of flak last season after finishing one off the bottom of the RaboDirect PRO12, a poor campaign that led to management changes and seven new signings.

And Faletau’s performance in the back row alongside fellow homegrown talent Dan Lydiate, who will be at Racing Metro next season, has added to the feel-good factor at Rodney Parade.

“Toby and Dan both played incredibly well on Saturday,” said Brown. “They have done the region proud.

“It’s a real boost for us to have provided two players in the starting XV of a Lions side that played so well. Most of the clubs in Britain and Ireland can’t say that.”