British & Irish Lion Dan Lydiate may be a new father but it’s not about to stop him from playing for Wales, according to his head coach Warren Gatland.
Lydiate left Newport Gwent Dragons for Top 14 side Racing Metro after helping to guide the Lions to glory for the first time in 16 years last summer.
And the flanker was in Paris as his fiancée, Nia, gave birth to a daughter on Tuesday.
However, Lydiate has made himself available for Wales’ clash against Italy on Saturday – and Gatland is only too happy to welcome him back.
"We always stress how important family is in the squad,” said Gatland. “We can accommodate being without him for a couple of days.
"We have told him to take a weekend and come back next week but he is adamant he wants to play [against Italy]."
