DAN Lydiate has been backed to be an ‘absolute animal’ on the pitch for the Dragons and a huge influence off it by his former Wales teammate Shane Williams.

The 35-year-old blindside flanker is currently with the national team as he hunts a place in the squad for the World Cup.

Lydiate, who has won 69 caps, will hope that he is on duty in France in September and October rather than preparing for the start of the United Rugby Championship with his new teammates.

The back rower from Abbeycwmhir, near Rhayader is returning to Rodney Parade after being released by the Ospreys due to cost-cutting.

Lydiate came through the Dragons academy and made 85 appearances before his Test performances earned a bumper deal from Racing 92.

He returns with more battle scars but Williams, speaking ahead of climbing Yr Wyddfa with Gareth Thomas for the Tackle HIV campaign, believes it’s good business by the Rodney Parade club.

County Times: BACK: Dan Lydiate has signed for the DragonsBACK: Dan Lydiate has signed for the Dragons (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“I think it’s a great signing,” said the former winger, who played with Lydiate at the 2011 World Cup.

“Dan isn’t a player who you sign to score 60-yard tries or get the crowd on their feet, the Dragons have the likes of Rio Dyer to do that.

“Dan is just absolute workaholic, he is a dog of a player who makes tackles and doesn’t miss many, his work rate around the field is incredible, he puts his head in places that I certainly didn’t and you know that you will always get 100 per cent from him.

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“He is an absolute animal and when I knew the Ospreys weren’t going to re-sign him I just hoped he would keep playing because he still such a massive asset to Welsh rugby.

“Dan also has the experience to help through working alongside the likes of Taine Basham and Aaron Wainwright. I think that he could make a world of difference to the Dragons – it’s a really shrewd signing.”

Dual-code international Thomas revealed he had HIV in 2019 and is undertaking the Three Peaks Challenge – climbing Yr Wydda, Scotland’s Ben Nevis and England’s Scafell Pike – to demonstrate that living with the infection is not a barrier to achieving anything and to celebrate the progress thanks to science and medicine.

“Nothing has changed between me and Gareth from when we were playing together to now. There is no stigma with HIV, it’s just going for a walk and having a chat like the old days,” said Williams.

Tackle HIV is a campaign led by Gareth Thomas in partnership with ViiV Healthcare and Terrence Higgins Trust and aims to tackle the stigma and misunderstanding around HIV. For more information visit tacklehiv.org and follow @tacklehiv