POWYS star Dan Lydiate is set for a return to the international arena after he was selected in coach Wayne Pivac’s squad for Wales’ summer tour of South Africa.

Pivac named a 33-player squad for the three-Test series this July on Wednesday, with Ospreys flanker Lydiate, 34, returning to the fold after his last international comeback lasted just 13 minutes. The Salford-born, Radnorshire raised forward had bounced back from a two-year international hiatus to make Wales’ 2021 Six Nations squad, but in the opener in Cardiff against Ireland he was forced from the field with ligament damage just 13 minutes into his return, with a subsequent knee operation ruling him out of a tournament that Wales eventually went on to win, as well as ending any hopes he had of a British & Irish Lions recall last summer.

George North joins Abbeycwmhir’s Lydiate in a return for international duty after extended periods out with injury. Ospreys’ teammate Sam Parry will join them in camp with Wales – it is the nation’s first visit to South Africa since 2014.

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Lydiate picked up the man off the match award as he started his first game for over a year in March.

The Powys powerhouse put in a typically industrious 55 minutes as the Ospreys beat Zebra 27-22 on Sunday, March 6.

Injury is nothing new to the Wales and British & Irish Lions flanker, having recovered from a broken neck as a teenager to win 64 Wales caps. But a recall following 15 months is still some feat.

There are two uncapped players for the Springboks clashes: Cardiff Rugby’s James Ratti is called up as is Leicester Tigers’ Tommy Reffell. Dan Biggar will continue to captain the squad for this series following his appointment in the Six Nations.

Pivac said: “We’ve had some players come back from injury like George North so that’s exciting for the squad.

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“Some players have been ruled out through injury, so there’s naturally going to be change there. Then we’ve looked at players’ form, who we are playing, where we’re playing – we have two games at altitude – and what our gameplan will be when considering selection.

“This three Test Series is going to be a challenge. It always has been, history shows that and certainly that’s what we’re looking to achieve – to get a victory there if not two and win a series. The first two Tests at altitude are going to be a challenge, so first and foremost we’ve got to do a lot of preparation here in Wales before we go and make sure we are in the best shape possible to perform well.”

The first Test against the Springboks will be held at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, July 2. From there Pivac’s squad will head to the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein (July 9) for the second Test, before completing the series at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, July 16.