Retiring Lydiate to miss final Dragons farewell
United Rugby Championship: Bulls v DragonsVenue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Date: Saturday, 17 May Kick-off: 14:00 BSTCoverage: Watch live on S4C, BBC iPlayer and via BBC Sport website.
There will be no final farewell for retiring Wales flanker Dan Lydiate this weekend.The British and Irish Lion had been due to run out one last time in Dragons' United Rugby Championship (URC) game against Bulls in Pretoria before moving into a coaching role with the region.But instead of a deserved guard of honour, the 37-year-old's final act was leaving the field on a medical buggy in their defeat by Stormers in Cape Town last weekend.Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia confirmed Lydiate has since flown home to Wales after suffering "a nasty concussion"."It's really unfortunate," said Tiatia."He's been a real servant to the club and for Wales. It's unfortunate that was his last game."
Tiatia will also be without Wales prop Rhodri Jones, who suffered a calf injury during the warm-up in Cape Town, while Jarred Rosser tore a chest muscle in a tackle.Dragons must pick up a point against Bulls, who are already guaranteed a home semi-final in the play-offs, if they are to avoid equalling the worst URC league season.Zebre currently hold that record after claiming just nine points in 2021-22."It's one final push," said Tiatia."It's the last game of the season, the environment that we're going to in Pretoria is a challenging place. "They are second in the league, they are playing a dominant style of rugby, which is the Bulls' DNA."So we're under no illusion on the challenge and we want to finish strongly with the young players that are here."
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