Wales legend Dan Lydiate denied a Dragons farewell at Bulls
The 37-year-old will not feature in Saturday's United Rugby Championship fixture in Pretoria (kick-off 2pm) after being injured against the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend.
Lydiate carried low against the South Africans and was caught by an accidental knee to the head, which led to lengthy treatment and the back row forward leaving the field on a cart.
The chop-tackling flanker has been ruled out of the final fixture by medics and finishes his Dragons career with 107 appearances over two spells, sandwiching time at Racing 92 and the Ospreys.
Lydiate won 72 caps for Wales and also played in all three Tests in the British & Irish Lions' series win in Australia in 2013.
LEGEND: Dragons flanker Dan Lydiate is retiring (Image: Geraint Nicholas/Huw Evans Agency)
"Dan has been a real servant to the club and also to Wales, so it's unfortunate that was his last game as he moves into coaching next season," said head coach Filo Tiatia.
"Dan has been awesome as a player-coach, and I was really trying to get the balance. He has been great to work with and is working really hard around his coaching.
"We have spoken about him and how impactful he has been, particularly when he broke his neck [for the Dragons against Perpignan in 2007].
'There was uncertainty if he would come back from that but he was a persistent young person, and those traits have followed throughout his career.'
Player-coach Lydiate will remain with the Dragons as part of Tiatia's management team with responsibility for contact area work.
The detail of that is to be thrashed out with the Wales great combining the role with his work on the family farm.
It is part of a triple blow for the Dragons after Lydiate flew home along with wing/centre Jared Rosser (torn pectoral muscle) and loosehead Rhodri Jones (torn calf).
Rosser suffered the blow in the closing stages of the defeat in Cape Town when attempting to make a tackle while prop Jones was a late withdrawal from the XV after another blow in a frustrating campaign that featured a serious knee injury in October.
The pair will be assessed by medics in Wales with the hope that the injuries won't impact the start of next season.
"We are really hopeful Jared's pec is not too bad and then the medical team will give us advice on what is required," said Tiatia.
"It's the same for Rhodri and it's really unfortunate after he fought really hard to get back from a long lay-off."
The Dragons have a number of other injury concerns and have flown back row forward Owen Conquer out to South Africa as cover.
Wales Under-20s international Evan Minto is in line to step into the matchday squad as Lydiate's replacement.
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