Dan Lydiate to leave Dragons for European club (From Campaign Series)
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Newport Gwent Dragons and Wales star to join European club
9:16am Wednesday 5th December 2012 in Sport
Dan Lydiate to leave Dragons for European club
NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have this morning released the following statement:
Dragons back row Dan Lydiate will be leaving the region at the end of the season to take up a contract with an undisclosed European team.
Dragons back row Dan Lydiate will be leaving the region at the end of the season to take up a contract with an undisclosed European team.
Danny has played for the senior side at Rodney Parade since 2006, overcoming a serious neck injury in 2007 which threatened his career.
The RBS 6 Nations player of the series has been a key player for the Region and the Dragons were keen to retain him within their ranks.
“We are obviously very disappointed that Danny has decided to leave the Dragons,” said Dragons Director of rugby Rob Beale. “He has been a key part of our set up for several years and is popular with both the players and the coaches.”
“I can assure our supporters that we did all that we could to retain Dan’s services but we simply cannot compete with the offers which have been put on the table.”
There will be no further comment from Danny on this issue at this time.
Comments(34)
portman
says...
9:52am Wed 5 Dec 12
newport city of dreams
says...
10:18am Wed 5 Dec 12
cant blame them for going there is no reason to stay in wales never mind newport dragons. dont no what the answer is ....
rhinestine
says...
10:35am Wed 5 Dec 12
He was given 50,000 as a pre contract agreement, and will be paid in excess of 400,000 a season........
Can't blame him really!! All the best to him, a great servant to the dragons, if I were him, I would not bother with Wales, just make as much money as he can and retire to his farming....
Hope it goes well for you dan!
ncfcr
says...
10:48am Wed 5 Dec 12
rhinestine wrote:Sinking crowds, players leaving in their droves. What odds on the ground being sold to the football? You could surely do with a couple of quid.
He is off to Racing Metro.......you got it from me first ...........
He was given 50,000 as a pre contract agreement, and will be paid in excess of 400,000 a season........
Can't blame him really!! All the best to him, a great servant to the dragons, if I were him, I would not bother with Wales, just make as much money as he can and retire to his farming....
Hope it goes well for you dan!
rugbyman
says...
11:20am Wed 5 Dec 12
Can't think of one!
newport city of dreams
says...
11:25am Wed 5 Dec 12
high x boy
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11:39am Wed 5 Dec 12
Gareth
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12:06pm Wed 5 Dec 12
rhinestine wrote:i remember the western mail touting the move to Racing Metro a few months ago, but those figures are news. Really can't blame him - you're right.
He is off to Racing Metro.......you got it from me first ...........
He was given 50,000 as a pre contract agreement, and will be paid in excess of 400,000 a season........
Can't blame him really!! All the best to him, a great servant to the dragons, if I were him, I would not bother with Wales, just make as much money as he can and retire to his farming....
Hope it goes well for you dan!
silurix
says...
12:43pm Wed 5 Dec 12
On a positive note - there's an opportunity for someone to step into his shoes. Back row is probably the one area of the pack where the Dragons have fewer problems.
This migration of players seems to be affecting all regions ( except the scarlets apparently ). I wonder if Rog L. has a cunning plan to fix it or whether he even sees it as a problem.
His team are still pulling 40K+ crowds at the MS so finances are not such a problem for him. We seem to be in a vacuum at the moment.
arvinda strop
says...
1:10pm Wed 5 Dec 12
But as you say you can not condem him for going and all the very best to you Dan I hope it goes well for you.
We will be down to two regions before long the way things are going,
The hope that people will continue to put there hands in there pockets to watch the regions when all the top welsh players are in france will be a distant memory before long.
Stay at home buy a six pack and sit and watch them get tatered by all an sundry now that is the way forward for rugby in wales
dalesman1666
says...
1:16pm Wed 5 Dec 12
He will not be alone, let the exodus begin.
SWBorderer
says...
1:16pm Wed 5 Dec 12
I fear that the whole rugby set up in Wales is teetering on the edge of oblivion, the new deal between the WRU and the Regions sounds good but words are easy, it needs drastic action now from a bunch of new faces, not the same people who got us into this mess.
Having grown up and played in an area that was a hotbed of British rugby, with fiercely competitive local rivalries, clubs taking on touring sides and whole communities centred on the local rugby club, how in the name of God have we allowed it to all fall apart so quickly. Very, very sad.
Robert Shillabeer
says...
1:19pm Wed 5 Dec 12
Dai the Milk
says...
3:01pm Wed 5 Dec 12
SWBorderer wrote:Excellent post. All predicted. Things can only get worse now. It serves the WRU right. I just feel for the real supporters and aspiring players. What a mess.
Good Luck Dan, go with our best wishes. When that sort of money is available you have to be mental to turn it down. I wouldn't worry even about availability for Wales, it's up to the WRU to stop organising games outside the agreed timetables. Look where their greed for cash has ended us this season.
I fear that the whole rugby set up in Wales is teetering on the edge of oblivion, the new deal between the WRU and the Regions sounds good but words are easy, it needs drastic action now from a bunch of new faces, not the same people who got us into this mess.
Having grown up and played in an area that was a hotbed of British rugby, with fiercely competitive local rivalries, clubs taking on touring sides and whole communities centred on the local rugby club, how in the name of God have we allowed it to all fall apart so quickly. Very, very sad.
newport city of dreams
says...
3:53pm Wed 5 Dec 12
only time our regions did well was when the suger daddies where putting there hands in there pockets, now that has ceased where do we go with it.. scotland had to drop a region maybe thats what we need to do. at the end of the day our crowds are very small when you look at the likes of the irish and english regions/ teams.whole thing needs looking into but the wru are useless..
Adrian Williams
says...
4:44pm Wed 5 Dec 12
rhinestine wrote:Rhinestine - football expert AND rugby agent. Wow, he knows everything - what a guy !
He is off to Racing Metro.......you got it from me first ........... He was given 50,000 as a pre contract agreement, and will be paid in excess of 400,000 a season........ Can't blame him really!! All the best to him, a great servant to the dragons, if I were him, I would not bother with Wales, just make as much money as he can and retire to his farming.... Hope it goes well for you dan!
SWBorderer
says...
4:50pm Wed 5 Dec 12
I will support the Dragons because that is my only option in professional rugby, but I make no secret that I am a Black and Amber through and through. I only wish Tony Brown had carried out his threat to take Newport into the English league, at least there would have been decent rugby at one ground in South Wales, and I'm prepared to bet the crowds would have turned up to watch it.
Robert Shillabeer
says...
6:25pm Wed 5 Dec 12
SWBorderer wrote:Thought you lived in England and couldn't get to many games? If your like me and many Dragons fans who do go to every game you would know how vibrant the support is. If it was bigger that would be great so let's hope it does grow. Glad Newport stayed inside the Welsh rugby set up as they are after all a founding club. The group who stand and chant from the Hazzel enclosure show what being a Dragons supporter is all about passion and drive by the bucket load. How the new talking shop s going to improve the viability of the four regions will be interesting to see, but I'm worried it will simply turn out to be an expensive talking shop.
Trouble is our club rugby could not survive in the professional rugby world. When this system was set up we had one chance to get it right but with so many people looking after their own self interests it's was doomed from the start.
I will support the Dragons because that is my only option in professional rugby, but I make no secret that I am a Black and Amber through and through. I only wish Tony Brown had carried out his threat to take Newport into the English league, at least there would have been decent rugby at one ground in South Wales, and I'm prepared to bet the crowds would have turned up to watch it.
ljg
says...
7:17pm Wed 5 Dec 12
Dai the Milk wrote:have to agree,
SWBorderer wrote: Good Luck Dan, go with our best wishes. When that sort of money is available you have to be mental to turn it down. I wouldn't worry even about availability for Wales, it's up to the WRU to stop organising games outside the agreed timetables. Look where their greed for cash has ended us this season. I fear that the whole rugby set up in Wales is teetering on the edge of oblivion, the new deal between the WRU and the Regions sounds good but words are easy, it needs drastic action now from a bunch of new faces, not the same people who got us into this mess. Having grown up and played in an area that was a hotbed of British rugby, with fiercely competitive local rivalries, clubs taking on touring sides and whole communities centred on the local rugby club, how in the name of God have we allowed it to all fall apart so quickly. Very, very sad.Excellent post. All predicted. Things can only get worse now. It serves the WRU right. I just feel for the real supporters and aspiring players. What a mess.
iscaman
says...
7:31pm Wed 5 Dec 12
Robert Shillabeer
says...
8:09pm Wed 5 Dec 12
iscaman wrote:Interesting thought, don't go for any Welsh qualified international players so we don't have players away for two or three months of the season on chill trips to Poland, and Welsh camps twice a year. Does raise the thought that if we had our best players available for the entire season we could do better. In Soccer the premiership teams don't play when England have international games so perhaps that could be an avenue for Welsh regional sides, i.e. international matches no regional matches, could go along with that as we would still have Premiership games and local games to support. Wonder if that could be the first agenda item for the new Professional Regional Game Board to consider???
Hang on folks...Dan is just another greedy player,who says on tv what he wants you to believe...farmer giles i am ...lol...and forgets the dragons got him through his neck problems...plus he never plays for the Dragons these days,he is no where world class when he turns up ,so let him go...don't thank him ...he should thank NGD...but i think they are glad to get rid of his wage bill....sign decent,hard foreign players to win regional rugby..central contracts will kill rugby like it has done cricket...god help us.
SWBorderer
says...
9:38pm Wed 5 Dec 12
iscaman wrote:Can't criticise a man for looking after his future, tell me you wouldn't do the same job you're doing now in a better climate, in better conditions and for three times the money. Loyalty went out the window when the cheque book came in.
Hang on folks...Dan is just another greedy player,who says on tv what he wants you to believe...farmer giles i am ...lol...and forgets the dragons got him through his neck problems...plus he never plays for the Dragons these days,he is no where world class when he turns up ,so let him go...don't thank him ...he should thank NGD...but i think they are glad to get rid of his wage bill....sign decent,hard foreign players to win regional rugby..central contracts will kill rugby like it has done cricket...god help us.
I do think we should be looking at recruiting outside of Wales in certain key positions to give the team some stability. I would also like to see the autumn internationals reduced to at least three, preferably two.
Making the league more competitive would be a positive step, even if we do lose the chance of qualification until we're good enough to stand up against the big boys, I see no value in getting stuffed every year.
Keith Barnett
says...
9:45pm Wed 5 Dec 12
The money ain't there - simples
Euwan Usami
says...
9:56pm Wed 5 Dec 12
SWBorderer wrote:Autumn internationals are about paying the bills period really which is why the players didn't get up first the first two imo. If you reduce the matches you reduce the income and therefore the WRU contribution to Welsh rugby. We are promised investment for next season at the Dragons so we may see an improvement. Personally I would like to see a team full of foreigners that stay with us and can't be called up for international duty. Let's at least stop the regional season when the internationals are on and rather than play weakened sides why not play all the regional regulars, promising youngsters and back ups in the premiership to strengthen it and attract larger crowds there.
iscaman wrote:Can't criticise a man for looking after his future, tell me you wouldn't do the same job you're doing now in a better climate, in better conditions and for three times the money. Loyalty went out the window when the cheque book came in.
Hang on folks...Dan is just another greedy player,who says on tv what he wants you to believe...farmer giles i am ...lol...and forgets the dragons got him through his neck problems...plus he never plays for the Dragons these days,he is no where world class when he turns up ,so let him go...don't thank him ...he should thank NGD...but i think they are glad to get rid of his wage bill....sign decent,hard foreign players to win regional rugby..central contracts will kill rugby like it has done cricket...god help us.
I do think we should be looking at recruiting outside of Wales in certain key positions to give the team some stability. I would also like to see the autumn internationals reduced to at least three, preferably two.
Making the league more competitive would be a positive step, even if we do lose the chance of qualification until we're good enough to stand up against the big boys, I see no value in getting stuffed every year.
WelshRugbyFan
says...
1:02am Thu 6 Dec 12
Luke and Aled had the same send off in the comment's when they announced their departures to foreign climes but when Tovey announced he was leaving to go to another region (at least he stayed in Wales) he was crucified!
At the end of the day it's the same as any other job if your offered a better financial package doing the same job at another club/workplace anyone and i mean anyone would take the better offer ... if you were offered more cash to do the same job elsewhere what would you do?
The Dragons unfortunately have been in a deep decline for years and it won't get any better as more talented players will leave for better offers in foreign climes ... they can get the same or better financial deals playing in the 2nd tier leagues across the bridge and the channel than in Wales, they get spotted by bigger clubs signed and then they are made ... until they sort the mess out that is Regional Rugby nothing will change!
and another gripe i have with the regions and WRU is ... ticket prices for mediocre regional games... if they dropped the price of ticket's they will get a lot more supporters in who will then be spending money on drinks in the bar, on match day program's, in the club shop on merchandise (there's your revenue)
Parents who are struggling at the moment may treat their kids to a day out when affordable ... those kids then become avid fans and grow up supporting these teams ... these are the future fans that need to be encouraged into the grounds... but the WRU and Regions are determined to price out fans and would rather have their teams playing in front of 3000-4000 (if lucky) instead of sellout crowds!
International ticket prices ... extortionate! i can remember when you thought you won the pools (lotto) when you managed to get a ticket ... these days you can pick them up easily if wanted at the checkout in Tesco for instance ... but to pay £60 - £100+ for a ticket these day's beggar's belief!
Even when Wales were at their worst it was always a sell out crowd... 56000 supporters for the Aussie match ... never thought i'd see the day when that wouldn't sell out!
WAKE UP WRU the supporters are trying to tell you something!
the dork
says...
5:42am Thu 6 Dec 12
Robert Shillabeer
says...
10:44am Thu 6 Dec 12
Fair play i have to laugh at some of these comments ... Good luck Dan. Wishing him all the best, Can't blame him etc etc ... what would have the comments been if he had gone to another welsh region?
Luke and Aled had the same send off in the comment's when they announced their departures to foreign climes but when Tovey announced he was leaving to go to another region (at least he stayed in Wales) he was crucified!
At the end of the day it's the same as any other job if your offered a better financial package doing the same job at another club/workplace anyone and i mean anyone would take the better offer ... if you were offered more cash to do the same job elsewhere what would you do?
The Dragons unfortunately have been in a deep decline for years and it won't get any better as more talented players will leave for better offers in foreign climes ... they can get the same or better financial deals playing in the 2nd tier leagues across the bridge and the channel than in Wales, they get spotted by bigger clubs signed and then they are made ... until they sort the mess out that is Regional Rugby nothing will change!
and another gripe i have with the regions and WRU is ... ticket prices for mediocre regional games... if they dropped the price of ticket's they will get a lot more supporters in who will then be spending money on drinks in the bar, on match day program's, in the club shop on merchandise (there's your revenue)
Parents who are struggling at the moment may treat their kids to a day out when affordable ... those kids then become avid fans and grow up supporting these teams ... these are the future fans that need to be encouraged into the grounds... but the WRU and Regions are determined to price out fans and would rather have their teams playing in front ofYour right on international ticket prices, you have to buy them through a booking agency along with a booking fee so the agency makes £2 or more on every ticket sold. On Regional prices you are quite wrong with the old argument of cut the price and more will attend. Say for instance you halve the ticket price, you need to double your ticket sales simply to get the same revenue, if you only gain an extra say 20% supporters you lose 30% of your normal income. You need to at least double you support to gain anything. The answer is to get the wins coming in and the interest will rise as will the numbers going through the turnstiles.
rightsideup
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11:09am Thu 6 Dec 12
newport city of dreams
says...
4:59pm Thu 6 Dec 12
Robert Shillabeer
says...
10:59am Fri 7 Dec 12
newport city of dreams wrote:Interesting idea, but what would everyone have to moan about in the winter? They could become County supporters but I guess some already are.
would the answer to falling gates to look at summer rugby, league seem to be doing well by it in england. at least we may get some more in the ground if the weather is better.
pettsy
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2:24pm Fri 7 Dec 12
Shillabeers nemesis
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3:17pm Fri 7 Dec 12
risca dragon
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5:53pm Fri 7 Dec 12
marchog says...
9:43am Wed 5 Dec 12