Saint-André: Ryan will soon be playing for Ireland

INCOMING Toulon head coach Philippe Saint André believes new recruit Timmy Ryan could be playing for Ireland within the next few years.

The 24-year-old Munster prop agreed a two-year contract with the French side last month and is bound for the southern French city for pre-season training at the beginning of July.

“He’s a player with enormous potential,” said Saint André. “If he can survive the Top 14 which is reputed to be one of the toughest environments in the world, he could very quickly mature as a player. He has a big future.”

Saint André, who leaves his post at Sale Sharks this summer for the Toulon hot seat, acknowledged it was Ryan’s 40-minute cameo against the All Blacks last year that brought the converted tighthead prop to his attention.

“The first time I saw him play was against the All Blacks last November. He was hugely impressive. He had Jamie McIntosh on the rack in the scrum. That’s no mean feat because there are many who rate McIntosh as the next big thing in the All Black front row.”

But Saint André revealed it was another Munster prop who played a key role in convincing him of Ryan’s abilities.

“I took advice from Federico Pucciariello who reassured me about him. I know Federico well from our time together at Gloucester. He confirmed that he’s a powerful guy whose scrummaging ability has a huge amount of potential. And his time in the back row means that he’s more comfortable than other props with the ball in hand.”

Ryan has had few opportunities in Munster colours since that game, appearing just five times this season. But Saint André reckons that the game time he’ll receive in the Top 14 will be invaluable for a young player at his stage of development.

“I think that like a lot of British and Irish players, he’s coming to France to open doors for his career. He’s has been kept out of the first team by John Hayes and Tony Buckley at Munster.

“He hasn’t had to opportunity to progress. He’s not had the playing time at the highest level and has been restricted to playing in the AIB League. He can’t wait forever for John Hayes to retire.”

Ryan is one of a plethora of players signed by the ambitious French club in recent months. He joins Felipe Contepomi, Clermont Auvergne scrum-half Pierre Mignoni and Sale Sharks hooker Sebastien Bruno to name but a few while Jonny Wilkinson is also considering an offer. Springbok Johann Van Niekerk and former rugby league star Sonny Bill Williams are also on the books there.

But Saint-André believes that swapping Cork for the Mediterranean jet set will pay dividends for Ryan’s career.

“Tim is an ambitious player. He knows that the scrum is a religion in France. He wants to play for Ireland in the next few years and he knows that in order to get capped, there’s no better league to play in than the Top 14.”