Lydiate ruled out of Loftus clash

One of the best servants of Welsh rugby won’t get the farewell he deserves after an injury stopped him from playing his final match against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Dan Lydiate, the 37-year old flanker with 72 caps for Wales and three for the British and Irish Lions, was ruled out of the Loftus final league game for the Welsh side Dragons after he was injured during the team’s loss to the DHL Stormers last weekend.

Coach Filo Tiatia confirmed Lydiate has played his final game of rugby and had returned home to Wales alongside teammates Jared Rosser and Rhodri Jones, who are also injured.

🗣️“It is unfortunate for three senior players, particularly Dan who has been a real servant to the club and Wales. The Stormers was sadly his last game..."

Lydiate to miss Bulls date as Rosser & Jones ruled out.

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— Dragons RFC 🐉 (@dragonsrfc) May 14, 2025

The loss of the trio hits the Dragons hard as they already have been confirmed to have had their worst season ever, with just one win in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and now firmly at the bottom of the log, face a daunting task to try and beat the Bulls at Loftus.

Lydiate announced his intention to retire at the end of the season back in April but the concussion he picked up rules him out of the game while Rosser (pectoral muscle) and Jones (calf) have also returned home.

“We’ve lost a few players through injury against the Stormers,” said Tiatia.

“Dan picked up a nasty concussion, so he has gone home. Jared tore his pec trying to make a tackle, which is unfortunate, and Rhodri we lost 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.

“We have flown over a few younger lads over the last few days, the likes of Owen Conquer who will get a great experience over here as a young senior Academy player.

“He will be rubbing shoulders with some players who have been in this programme for a long time.”

Tiatia paid tribute to Lydiate’s experience and influence on his side.

“He has been awesome for us. 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 (with 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.”

The coach said this weekend’s game, which is difficult for his side, needed “one final push” to end on a high.

“It’s one final push. It’s the last game of the season and the environment we are going to in Pretoria is a challenging place. They are second in the URC, and they are playing a really dominate style of rugby.

“That is their DNA so we are under no illusion as to the challenge, but we want to finish strongly with the young players who are here.”

Both sides will name their teams on Friday for the clash.