Mid Wales rugby star Dan Lydaite to quit Newport Gwent Dragons

The Wales international ace from Abbey-cwm-hir, near Llandrindod Wells, has told Newport Gwent Dragons he intends to join an undisclosed European team with reports from France suggesting Top 14 side Racing Metro, based in a suburb of Paris, could be a possible destination.

Lydiate's contract expires at the end of the campaign and he has been linked with several French clubs.

Several of the 24-year-old's international team-mates are already playing in France.

Among them are James Hook and Luke Charteris at Perpignan, Mike Phillips at Bayonne and Gethin Jenkins at Toulon.

Rob Beale, Dragons director of rugby, stressed the club had done all they could to keep Lydiate at Rodney Parade.

"We are obviously very disappointed that Danny has decided to leave the Dragons," Beale said.

"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 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."

Highly-rated blindside flanker Lydiate, who is 6ft 4in and 17st 9lb, made his Dragons debut in 2006 and overcame a serious neck injury the following year to establish himself as a Wales regular.