Donnacha Ryan: ‘All the French players admire what we’re doing as a nation’

Donnacha Ryan can’t take to the field with old comrades at the Aviva Stadium this weekend, but the Racing 92 second row continues to take pride in the part he played in Ireland’s journey towards the summit of world rugby.

The Tipperary man’s Test career had taken time to pick up momentum, but 47 caps had been pocketed and many more were in the pipeline before the decision was made to accept a move from Munster to Paris that removed him from consideration for national honours.