Falcons swoop for former Munster and Ireland starlet Ryan

FORMER Munster and Ireland U19 prop Tim Ryan has quit big-spending French club Toulon a year early to try to carve out a first-team place at Newcastle Falcons.

Ryan has gone in the opposite direction to Falcons tight-head legend Carl Hayman, who joined Toulon this summer, and is seeking to finally nail down a first-team place.

The 26-year-old helped Toulon reach the final of the Amlin Challenge Cup and finish second in the Top 14 last season after signing a two-year deal with the club last April.

Toulon’s director of rugby, Phillipe Saint Andre, was so impressed with his performance for Munster against the All Blacks at Thomond Park in 2008 that he offered him a contract.

Having played with the Irish side at the 2003 IRB U19 World Cup in France, Highfield product Ryan managed only five first-team appearances with Munster. He heads to the Guinness Premiership hoping to make the breakthrough as a first-choice player having learned his trade under John Hayes at Munster.

Falcons coach Alan Tait is delighted with the deal. He said: “It’s been a hell of a task trying to find a tight head of the quality that will help take this team on, but I’m more than satisfied that I’ve got my man. I’ve done the research, spoken to countless people and come out with the firm conclusion that Tim Ryan has the power and ambition to really make a mark.

“I’ll say from the outset that Tim is coming here as our number one tight head. That is important because I know that getting game time has been a massive motivation for him in securing this move. He still had a year left on his deal in Toulon and could have just stuck it out there, but the fact he has taken the decision to join us tells me a lot about his ambition.

“He’s initially on a one-year deal with us, but we’ve made a commitment to Tim that if he does the business we will look to extend his contract sooner rather than later. Our conditioners have put him through his paces in the gym and I have to say his attitude and hunger for the game is absolutely outstanding. He feels at this stage of his career he should be getting regular rugby to fulfil his ambitions with regards to being on the radar for the Ireland set-up. He’s prepared to go the extra mile to make it happen.”