A senior Wales coach has reportedly been left at home as the squad makes their way to South Africa for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against the Springboks.
According to WalesOnline, contact skills coach Dan Lydiate did not travel for the Welsh Dragons’ 35-21 defeat to Los Pumas in Argentina, and will also miss the Durban leg of their tour after he and several backroom staff were left behind in Wales.
The Welsh news outlet reports that Lydiate’s absence is linked to the terms of his contract.
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The former Wales flanker, who joined the coaching staff full time in May, is understood to work only on weekdays, with his role not extending to match days, despite attending Wales’ Nations Championship opener against Fiji.
It is understood that the same arrangement is expected to apply to Wales’ future attacking skills coach once the position is filled.
WalesOnline notes it is not uncommon for members of Wales’ wider support staff to remain at home on southern hemisphere tours for budgetary reasons.
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