In the Olympic two-man test race in February at Sochi, Cory Butner and brakeman Johnny Quinn were the highest-finishing Americans in ninth, more than a second off the gold-medal pace of Beat Hefti and brakeman Thomas Lamparter of Switzerland.
Lydiate has been one of the stand-out performers for the Dragons this season and is one of just two Rodney Parade players - alongside lock Luke Charteris - called up for Wales coach Warren Gatland's 29-man autumn Test squad.