NEWPORT Gwent Dragons blindside specialist Dan Lydiate will miss the rest of the season and has also been ruled out of Wales’ game against world champions South Africa on June 5 and the two-Test visit to New Zealand which follows.
Lydiate damaged an ankle against the Ospreys just over two weeks ago and has now had an operation on the tendons, the surgeon saying he will not be able to play for between three and four months.
That means he misses the final three Dragons games of the season against Edinburgh, Cardiff Blues and the return Ospreys fixture as well as missing the opportunity to play against the Springboks and the All Blacks.
It is more bad luck for the 22-year-old who broke his neck at Perpignan in the Heineken Cup in November 2007 only to battle back and resume playing less than a year later.
Wales coach Warren Gatland was impressed with him and called him up for the end of season tour to North America last year only for him to have to withdraw because of the Heineken Cup play off against Calvisano in Italy.
But Lydiate took that in his stride as well and his form was so good at the start of this season that he was included in the Wales squad for the autumn internationals.
He made his debut against Argentina and was then handed his first start against Australia, then he was also included in the Six Nations squad, though he never took the field.
As if to prove his frustration at his period on the sidelines, Lydiate started like an express train against the Ospreys, but injured his ankle late in the first half and now faces another lengthy spell out of action.
“It seemed a pretty innocuous injury at the time, but I suppose it’s an occupational hazard,” said Dragons rugby manager Robert Beale.
“We have certainly missed him, but it’s close to the end of the season so he will have the summer to recover and he’s also got time on his side with Wales.”
Dragons wing Aled Brew, who left the field late on against the Ospreys also with an ankle injury, has had a special boot removed and there is a chance he will be fit for the final match of the season at the Liberty Stadium the first weekend of May.
The Dragons are waiting on the fitness of forwards Luke Charteris and Joe Bearman as training resumes this week for Sunday’s match against Edinburgh at Rodney Parade (5.05pm).
Charteris injured his neck in the last game against Glasgow nine days ago.
Bearman has been out since December with groin trouble, but has resumed serious training.
However, lock Adam Jones is unlikely to play again this season because of a severed tendon in his thumb and No 8 Lewis Evans could, like Brew, make the Ospreys return after having the plaster removed from his arm.
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