Newport Gwent Dragons have begun discussions with lock Luke Charteris regarding his future with the club.

The Welsh international is out of contract with the Dragons at the end of the season.

As a result the 28-year-old has been linked with a move to a number of French clubs, including Perpignan.

However, Newport team manager Robert Beale has revealed that he is confident that Charteris will remain at Rodney Parade.

"I'm optimistic. I'm deep in discussions with Luke and his agent over his future," said Beale. "Luke has been at Newport Gwent Dragons and Rodney Parade for the best part of ten years. So we are doing everything we can as a business to keep him within our region.

"To be fair to Luke he has got some fairly major decisions to make on the back of a very, very good World Cup.

"He has become an asset that everybody is chasing. I'm doing my best in my role to retain him but we'll see how things pan out of the next few weeks."

Charteris joined the Dragons from Llanelli Scarlets in 2003.