Wales legend denied a final URC appearance before his retirement
Dan Lydiate on Wales duty in 2023
Former Wales back-rower Dan Lydiate has played his final professional rugby match after injury denied him a final appearance next weekend before his scheduled retirement.
The 37-year-old had planned for the curtain to fall this Saturday in Pretoria when the Dragons take on the Bulls in their final round of the 2024/25 United Rugby Championship regular season.
Lydiate returns home
However, the veteran lasted just 26 minutes of last Saturday’s loss to the Stormers in Cape Town, and his concussion has resulted in him flying home to the UK after he learned he wouldn’t be fit for selection in the second and final match of the Dragons’ two-match tour to South Africa.
A club statement read: “Filo Tiatia has confirmed Dan Lydiate has played his final game of professional rugby after being ruled out of the season finale with Vodacom Bulls.
“The Men of Gwent jet from Cape Town to Pretoria on Thursday for the final game in the BKT United Rugby Championship this term, but will do so without Lydiate plus teammates Jared Rosser (pec) and Rhodri Jones (calf) who have all returned home after injuries.
“Former Wales and British & Irish Lions great Lydiate had announced in April his decision to retire at the end of the season but he will be denied a final appearance after being forced off early in the defeat to DHL Stormers.”
“Dan picked up a nasty concussion”
Head coach Tiatia explained: “We have lost a few players through injury against the Stormers. Dan picked up a nasty concussion, so he has gone home. Jared tore his pec trying to make a tackle, which is unfortunate, and we lost Rhodri in the warm-up when he tore his calf.
“It is unfortunate for three senior players, particularly Dan who has been a real servant to the club and Wales. It was sadly his last game before he moves into coaching next season.”
Having re-joined the Dragons in the summer of 2023 following stints at the Ospreys and Racing 92, Lydiate will become the Rodney Parade club’s breakdown coach next season following a year working as player-coach.
“He has been awesome for us,” continued Tiatia. “He is a player-coach and we have looked to get that balance this season. But in the first block, we picked up a few injuries and the plan changed.
“He played in that first game (against Ospreys) and he was instrumental. Dan has been great to work with. He is working hard with his coaching, and he will move into the programme next season.
“He has been so impactful. When he broke his neck as a young man he came back, he was a persistent young person back then and he still has those same traits.”
