WALES FLANKER DAN Lydiate is one of 12 players considering a new national dual contract offer from the Welsh Rugby Union.
After months of bitter wrangling, the WRU and Wales’ four professional regions agreed on a way forward for the club game in the Principality in September.
Other players including Liam Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar, and Scott Williams have also been offered contracts under the new terms, according to BBC Sport.
Wales captain Sam Warburton already has such a dual contract, with the aim to ensure other leading players stay at home and play for one of the regions while pursuing their international careers.
Lucrative offers from clubs in France and England led to a talent drain at regional level, with the likes of Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Lydiate leaving the Welsh club game.
But in Lydiate’s case the move didn’t work out as planned, with the back-row starting just two matches in France’s Top 14 for Racing Metro this season after joining the Paris-based club from Newport Gwent Dragons at the start of the previous European campaign.
Lydiate, selected by Wales coach Warren Gatland for Saturday’s clash against world champions New Zealand at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, left Racing last month, fearing a lack of game time was damaging his hopes of playing at next year’s World Cup in England.
The 26-year-old, capped 39 times by Wales, is currently unattached to any club.
“National dual contracts will help us keep international class talent here in Wales available for regional rugby and for international selection,” said WRU chief executive Roger Lewis.
“Dan Lydiate suddenly became available while Warren was preparing his list of national dual contract candidates, which offered us the opportunity to bring a key international player back to Wales.”
The new deals are funded 60% by the WRU and 40% by the four Welsh professional regions, with £3.3 million (€4.1 million) in total available for spending on the contracts.
They are the result of a new six-year rugby services agreement produced after protracted talks between the WRU and Pro Rugby Wales, the umbrella organisation for the four regional sides — Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets.
Any player on a national dual contract will remain in Wales with a region where their development and welfare can be monitored by me and my national squad coaches, conditioners and medical staff,” Gatland said.
“In particular I would really like to thank the regions for their help in facilitating Dan Lydiate’s return to Wales,” the New Zealander added.
“It wasn’t something that we had envisaged so early or budgeted for so I would like to thank them for their help,” said Gatland, who selected Lydiate for all three Tests while coaching the British and Irish Lions on their victorious tour of Australia last year.
“The aim of the contracts is to stem the flow of our best talent abroad and to ensure the players staying in Wales will have the very best care to prolong their careers at the highest level,” said former Ireland coach Gatland, who has long criticised the fitness levels of Welsh stars at French clubs.
These new dual contracts align Welsh rugby with the system that has allowed Ireland to keep its top players at home in recent seasons. The IRFU’s central contracting system ties players down to both the national team and one of the four Irish provinces.
- Additional reporting by TheScore.ie
It’s about time they got their house in order.
This is fantastic news for Irish rugby as it will make the Pro 12 more competitive
Odd that Gareth Anscombe, an uncapped 23 year old, was one of the 12 players offered contracts. Considering Wales have over 50 capped players playing in Wales it seems an odd decision.
He has Welsh grand parents I’m fairly sure. Extremely tasty player at fly-half or fullback.
Ireland missed out on not getting him signed up with Ulster when his dad was in charge.
Has played quite a few games with the Chiefs and his ITM Cup team Auckland.
Very good signing for the Welsh. Much prefer him than that dirty player Liam Williams. He cost his team against South Africa during the Summer Internationals and his elbow on Paddy Jackson during our win in the last 6 nations was a disgrace
Not arguing his talent or anything but there are many other talented and well established internationals playing in Wales who I’d have thought would be a priority for the WRU to sign. It’s a bit like Ireland trying to get Jared Payne a contract before Tommy Bowe.
Either way let the Welsh keep making their mistakes so we can keep beating them!
I look forward to Anscombe playing at Kingspan after him calling everyone in Ulster clowns. He should get a tasty reception.