Wales: Flanker Dan Lydiate rewarded with dual contract

Flanker Dan Lydiate has been offered a new national dual contract by the Welsh Rugby Union.

After months of bitter wrangling, between the WRU and the four professional regions in Wales, the two groups have agreed on a way forward, with Lydiate learning on Tuesday that he has been offered a deal.

Lucrative offers from clubs in France and England had led to a talent drain at regional level in Wales, with Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Lydiate all leaving Welsh club rugby.

But in Lydiate's case the move did not work out as planned, with the back-row player starting just two matches in France's Top 14 for Racing Metro, having joined the Paris-based club from Newport Gwent Dragons.

Lydiate, selected by Wales coach Warren Gatland for Saturday's clash against world champions New Zealand at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, left Racing last month fearing a lack of game time was damaging his hopes of playing at next year's World Cup.

The 26-year-old, capped 39 times by Wales, is currently unattached to any club. 

WRU chief executive Roger Lewis said: "National dual contracts will help us keep international class talent here in Wales available for regional rugby and for international selection.

"Dan Lydiate suddenly became available while Warren was preparing his list of national dual contract candidates, which offered us the opportunity to bring a key international player back to Wales."

The new deals will be funded 60% by the WRU and 40% by the four regions (Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets), with a total of £3.3m available for spending on the contracts.

National coach Gatland said: "Any player on a national dual contract will remain in Wales with a region where their development and welfare can be monitored by me and my national squad coaches, conditioners and medical staff.

"In particular I would really like to thank the regions for their help in facilitating Dan Lydiate's return to Wales.

"It wasn't something that we had envisaged so early or budgeted for. The aim of the contracts is to stem the flow of our best talent abroad.”