‘They sold him him behind his back.’

Dragons boss Bernard Jackman is hoping he can convince George North to join him at Rodney Parade next season, as the bidding war intensifies for the the British & Irish Lion.

North has agreed a deal with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) to return home next season. But he is yet to decide which Welsh region he will play his rugby with.

The Scarlets have first refusal, considering he left them to join Northampton. But Jackman has added a little spark to any potential dealings, suggesting they sold him to the Saints without his permission.

“That’s a really difficult one.” Jackman told Off The Ball in relation to North.

“He effectively signed a National Dual Contract with the Welsh Rugby Union back in October and the protocol for that is that his region of origin, which is the Scarlets, have first call on him.

“The issue potentially is that the Scarlets sold him when he was 21 to Northampton without his permission.

“So there’s a bit of history there. At the moment we are waiting to see if he refuses the Scarlets.

“If so we’d love to be next in line, but so would the Ospreys.

“The Blues were interested but pulled out so it’s effectively between the Scarlets, Ospreys and us.”

You can watch Jackman talking about North below.