Dan Lydiate
Wales
player portrait
Full name Danny John Lydiate
Born December 18, 1987, Salford, Lancs
Current age 36 years 92 days
Major teams British and Irish Lions, Dragons, Ospreys, Racing Metro, Wales
Position Back-row
Height 6 ft 4 in
Weight 253 lb

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 2009-2021 68 62 6 5 1 0 0 0 38 28 2 57.35
Wales 2009-2021 65 60 5 5 1 0 0 0 36 27 2 56.92
British and Irish Lions 2013-2013 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 66.66
Five/Six Nations 2011-2021 25 23 2 0 0 0 0 0 18 6 1 74
IRB Rugby World Cup 2011-2015 9 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 0 55.55

Career statistics
Test debut Wales v Argentina at Millennium Stadium, Nov 21, 2009 match details
Last Test Wales v Ireland at Millennium Stadium, Feb 7, 2021 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list
Profile

A gritty worker at the breakdown and towering tackler, Wales flanker Lydiate quickly developed into an international back-row of note after recovering from a career-threatening neck injury.

Aged 19 he was injured while on duty for the Dragons against Perpignan, ruling him out for the remainder of the season and initially blocking his path to higher honours. A Wales cap at U20 level, he finally graduated to the international arena in 2009, with caps against Argentina and Australia, but it was not until November 2010 that he rendered a genuine claim to the Wales blindside berth on a consistent basis.

During the 2011 Six Nations he entered a rich vein of form and along with openside Sam Warburton contributed heavily to huge defensive displays against Scotland and Italy. He was also a key player in Wales' run to the 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-finals and cemented his reputation as one of the brightest talents in the game during the 2012 Six Nations.

His destructive tackling, huge workload and aggressive rucking were all central to Wales' eventual Grand Slam triumph - collecting the Man of the Match honour against Scotland and France - and his contribution saw him recognised as the Player of the Championship.

Wales suffered a 3-0 series defeat in Australia during the summer but Lydiate rounded off the season by winning the Welsh Rugby Writers' Player of the Year Award.

Lydiate missed the vast majority of the 2012/13 season, including Wales' Six Nations triumph, after breaking his right ankle on duty for the Scarlets in September. However he returned in time to impress Warren Gatland enough to earn himself a place on the plane to Australia with the British & Irish Lions.

Lydiate was selected on the bench for the Lions' opening test against the Wallabies but started the subsequent two tests as his influence grew and the Lions claimed a 2-1 series victory.

Latest Articles
Warburton wants more players on dual contracts (Dec 17, 2014) WRU Chairman wanted Lydiate at Dragons (Dec 9, 2014) Lydiate joins Ospreys on dual contract (Dec 9, 2014) Lydiate poised to join Ospreys (Dec 8, 2014) Lydiate one of 12 to be offered dual contracts (Nov 19, 2014) Dan Lydiate news and articles (74) »
Latest Photos
Nov 15, 2014
Dan Lydiate belts out the Welsh national anthem
Dan Lydiate belts out the Welsh national anthem
©  Getty Images
Feb 21, 2014
Dan Lydiate follows the ball for Wales
Dan Lydiate follows the ball for Wales
©  Getty Images
Feb 21, 2014
Dan Lydiate receives a pass
Dan Lydiate receives a pass
©  Getty Images
Jan 31, 2014
Dan Lydiate trains with Wales
Dan Lydiate trains with Wales
©  Getty Images
Dan Lydiate rugby photos (23) »

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