MICHAEL Owen, Wales' 2005 Grand Slam winning captain, is quitting Newport Gwent Dragons at the end of the season - and is almost certainly leaving Wales as well.

The talented number eight, who also went on the British Lions tour to New Zealand that year, refuses to comment on his future, but wouldn't commit himself to the Dragons either when asked recently.

The Argus understands Owen does intend leaving the Dragons and, in an even more dramatic development, club sources in London indicate he is on the verge of a move there.

It understood Harlequins and Saracens are both interested in signing Owen.

If it's the former, Owen would line up next season with top locks, former All Black Chris Jack and Steve Borthwick who is joining from Bath.

Owen, who is 27 and has won 40 caps, is out of contract with the Dragons at the end of the season and is believed to be so disillusioned with Wales that he is closing in on a major big money move across the border.

That will further test the policy - ratified yesterday - by Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Roger Lewis and new coach Warren Gatland that players who leave Wales will risk jeopardising their international futures.

But when Llanelli Scarlets announced Dwayne Peel is moving to Guinness Premiership club Sale at the end of the season and Stephen Jones considered a move to France - now committing to the Scarlets - the WRU hurriedly backtracked.

They said moves by current squad members would not affect their international futures.

But it is not clear how that will impact on Owen if he does switch to an English club because he is not in the current Wales squad, so he could be taking a major risk.

But after the way he has been marginalised by Wales in the past two years, he may not be too concerned about that.

His career at international level has gone into a sharp decline as previous coach Gareth Jenkins and now Gatland have left him out of Wales squads.

He played only a minor role in the World Cup and to be omitted from the current Six Nations squad was probably the last straw.

His departure will be a big blow for the Dragons, with outside half Ceri Sweeney set to join Cardiff Blues.

Owen has been with the Dragons since the inception of regional rugby nearly five years ago and has made 91 appearances for them.