A TOP trailer firm is helping Welsh rugby colossus Dan Lydiate swap chopping down the world’s best rugby stars for tackling life after rugby, and rearing his pedigree Welsh Black cattle.

The fearless Wales and British & Irish Lions hero, 33, was recently called up to Wales coach Wayne Pivac’s squad, recalled for the Six Nations kicking off next month after a three-year exile.

But far from seeking the limelight that comes with international rugby stardom, Lydiate has always been a man deeply attached to his rural Radnorshire roots and likes nothing more than to muck in with the day-to-day work at the family’s Tynyberth farm in Abbeycwmhir, near Llandrindod Wells.

Lydiate was named player of the tournament in 2012 but will now be hoping to add agricultural accolades with his herd of Welsh Black cattle on the 500-acre family farm after turning to Ifor Williams Trailers when he needed transport for them.

When rugby duties permit, the father-of-two travels from his current home in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, back to Radnorshire, where he is thinking of life after rugby and increasing the size of his 26-strong herd of Welsh Blacks.

Ifor Williams Trailers designed a bespoke version of their famous logo to incorporate the name of Dan’s herd, Llaithddu.

“I train down in Swansea and on my days off I commute back to the farm in Llandrindod,” said the Ospreys flanker.

“It’s a proper Mid Wales hill farm, predominantly sheep, and in the last two years I’ve bought a small herd of pedigree Welsh Black cattle.

“I’m diversifying into that and moving forward, planning for life after rugby back on the farm.

“Going down the Welsh Black route was something that suits the farm because the terrain is quite tough.

“I enjoy it and obviously while I’m still in training my parents and my older brother, Jack, look after the herd for me. My brother and I are the fifth generation on the same farm and we’re hoping to pass it on to the next generation.

“Growing up on a farm I’m very familiar with Ifor Williams Trailers and in recent years I’ve been borrowing trailers before deciding to take the plunge and purchase one.

“Ifor Williams was the one I liked the most out of all the different brands and the service has been class.

“For me, the biggest thing when I am transporting large animals is the stability on the road.

“Safety was a paramount consideration and obviously reliability. These trailers are pretty durable and robust. They also hold their value really well.

“The name of the herd is Llaithddu after the valley where the farm is located and the bespoke logo on the trailer is brilliant, I’m over the moon with it.”

The powerful 6ft 2ins, 17 stone 9Ibs Grand Slam-winner is predicted to start against Ireland in Cardiff on February 7, hopefully adding to his 64 Wales caps, the last of which came against Australia in November 2018.

The tough tackling blindside flanker came back from breaking his neck in 2008 to establish himself as a Wales stalwart under Warren Gatland, and he played in all three tests on the Lions’ winning tour of Australia in 2013.

Among those present when Dan came to pick up the trailer were team leader Peter Cross and Richard Sullivan from the sales department.

Also present was Tim Jones, the Welsh Rugby Players’ Association’s personal development manager, who has been advising Dan on the transition after his playing career finally does come to an end.

He said: “We know the players have got to focus and put a lot of energy into playing rugby, but they also need to prepare for the next chapter of their lives.

“That’s where Dan is now, he’s laying the groundwork for life after rugby.

“He’s probably as equally passionate about farming as he is about rugby, and while his profile is huge in rugby as a British Lion and an incredible international rugby player, his profile is really large in farming has well.

“The passion that he brings to the rugby field will help him in farming as well.”