Retired navy commander sets sights on ruck justice

After tackling international drug dealers, spotting who has been gouging in the ruck should be a piece of cake for a retired Naval Service commander who has been appointed a citing commissioner for the Six Nations.

Eugene Ryan, who lives in Cobh, Co Cork, is the first member of the Munster Association of Referees to be appointed to such a responsible post and his first match will be the Scotland v Wales clash in Murrayfield on February 15.

Mr Ryan, who captained the navy’s side and played with them for 13 years, previously made headlines for entirely different reasons.