Dan Lydiate signs for Dragons

Dragons RFC have officially announced the major signing of Wales and British & Irish Lions back row star Dan Lydiate.

Vastly experienced forward Lydiate – recently named in the preliminary World Cup squad for Wales – will return to his first professional club and Rodney Parade this summer.

Lydiate played 85 times for the Men of Gwent between 2006 and 2013 – captaining the club on a number of occasions.

The hugely talented and driven 35-year-old – who stands 6ft 4in tall and weighs 18st 1lbs - has won 65 caps for Wales during a glittering career and featured in the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups.

Among his many accolades the flanker was named Six Nations Player of the Championship in 2012 and the Welsh Rugby Writers’ Player of the Year that same season.

Lydiate – who has also had playing spells at Racing 92 and Ospreys – was part of the British & Irish Lions squad that toured Australia in 2013, featuring in all three Tests as the Lions claimed a 2-1 series victory. He also captained the Lions on that tour.