Ryan ready to fly for Falcons

TIMMY RYAN was just a couple of months into his contract with Top 14 side Toulon when he learned a salutary lesson about what was required to survive and prosper in French rugby.

The former Munster Development and Irish under-age forward – a somewhat surprising target of Toulon coach Philippe Saint Andre – had been doing nicely for his new club and a couple of early scrums against French rivals Clermont Auvergne revealed little of what was to come.

“We had a couple of scrums and I was quite comfortable, under no real pressure,” recalls Ryan.