Retiring Munster stalwart Ronan prepares for new chapter

As Munster players plan their holidays and how to pass the time during the off-season, Niall Ronan is working out what life will be like as a former professional rugby player.

The 32-year-old former Irish international flanker’s career came to a premature end due to a seemingly innocuous knee injury sustained at a Munster training session before a Heineken Cup game with Gloucester at Thomond Park last October

Ronan, who plans to launch a sports-related strength and conditioning consultancy in his native Meath, battled to return to fitness for the past six months. But it slowly became evident there was going to be no return.

“It happened in an odd way,” he recalled. “I was just thrown up in a line out and it occurred whatever way I landed on my knee. I tried to rehab it for six to eight weeks but the surgeon intervened and said I would have to be opened up. It was worse than it showed in the scan and unfortunately I was told my time was up. It was a devastating blow.”

Ronan could be bitter about his fate. Instead he prefers to focus on what he achieved. He played for Irish Youths, Under 19s and 21s, Leinster, Munster, Ireland A (6) and Ireland (4), has two Magners League medals and one Heineken Cup medal and a catalogue of happy memories.

The Piltown native grew up playing Gaelic football and represented his county before switching codes having impressed with Boyne RFC and then the Irish Youths team. Shortly after he was snapped up by Leinster, with whom he made 37 senior appearances. However, it was with Munster, after a 2007 move south, that he really made his mark, even if he often had to live in the shadow of the legendary David Wallace and scrap for game time.

Ronan would play 104 for the province, and score 18 tries.

“I think every time I put on the jersey was a happy time for me, just to be part of it, but I suppose the match that would stand out is the one against the All Blacks (2008), that was just something really special, even if we were caught at the post for the win. It was always an honour to play with Munster but that big moment was against New Zealand, the atmosphere, it’s still hard to find the words to describe the occasion, it was just a great night to be involved in.

“In Europe, I suppose it was perhaps the home game against Clermont Auvergne (2009) when I scored a try that came after I chipped over the top; it was one of the last plays of the game and we stopped them from picking up a losing bonus point, which gave us the advantage to get into the quarter-finals. That was a huge stepping stone in my career, to get to play Heineken Cup rugby against a top side.

“In the Magners (RaboDirect) it was my first year when we won it under Tony McGahan, I played a lot of games, played really good rugby and I suppose I contributed a huge part in helping the team win that trophy.”

He savoured the opportunity to play for Ireland and the chance to line out with players like Tommy Bowe, Johnny Sexton and particularly Brian O’Driscoll. “You don’t get a bigger honour than playing for your country and to play with and against great players.”

As he moves with a new business and a role as director of rugby in Boyne RFC, he believes Munster will continue to prosper under new head coach Anthony Foley. Ronan has played through the Declan Kidney, Tony McGahan and Rob Penney eras, alongside Foley as a player and under him as a coach, and he rates the new boss very highly.

“He (Foley) will do it is own way, he does have his own philosophy and he will bring a lot of good organisation to the table. His man management is very straightforward, very honest, he will tell people straight up where they are in terms of strengths and weaknesses and as players, that’s what you’re looking for. I think he’s a great coach and it’s good to have a man who’s a Munster man with Munster very much in his heart.”