JOE Bearman is set to quit Newport Gwent Dragons at the end of the season and join the Ospreys.

Bearman has only just returned to major rugby with the Dragons after a long standing groin injury which has severely restricted the amount of rugby he has been able to play.

In fact, during a period of 13 months from December 2009 to January this year, Bearman was able to make just two appearances.

But the Argus understands that the Cornish-born No 8 forward, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is bound for the Ospreys.

They are hit by Wales calls with Ryan Jones and Jonathan Thomas both involved heavily on the international front, while Justin Tipuric is a highly promising young flanker who could also step up, and Marty Holah and Jerry Collins are not getting any younger.

The Ospreys also appear to be offloading many of their high-earning, high-profile players with Gavin Henson long since flown the nest, initially for the Saracens and now with Toulon, while James Hook has signed for Perpignan and Lee Byrne for Clermont Auvergne.

Alun Wyn Jones is being linked with Clermont as well and Mike Phillips is also said to be attracting offers.

So the Ospreys could well use a player of Bearman’s character if only as back-up during the World Cup in September and October, in future autumn series and the Six Nations Championship.

It is believed they have offered Bearman a hefty salary rise compared with what he earns at the Dragons, but they may be fairly relaxed about the move even if not exactly thrilled by one of their players being lured away.

He has been with the Dragons for almost five seasons since moving to Wales from Cornwall, and made such an impact at first that he was quickly being talked about as a Wales squad contender.

Warren Gatland became interested and he was believed to be on the fringe of the squad, about to be considered the year before last for the summer tour to North America, but he was not quite eligible on residency grounds.

He also won the South Wales Argus Dragons player-of-the-year award twice, voted for by Argus readers.

But by the time Bearman did qualify for Wales he was suffering from the groin injury which has blighted the latter part of his period with the Dragons.

That has limited his number of appearances for them to just 68 in nearly five years.

The pending departure of Bearman, 32 this month, is not seen as much of a body blow as it might have been a year or two ago because the Dragons have so many developing back row forwards.

Dan Lydiate is now a Wales regular which, on the other hand, will restrict his availability, but the Dragons also have Toby Faletau, Lewis Evans, Andrew Coombs and Hugo Ellis.

He would follow lock Ian Gough and wing Richard Fussell as Dragons who have link up with the Ospreys in recent seasons.

But Wales prop Craig Mitchell could make the journey the other way, though the Dragons’ coaches are happy with the way Dan Way played against Edinburgh on Saturday after being promoted from the Newport side.

The Englishman, from the Swindon area, is seen as another player who could be developed from within.