Nenagh back Donnacha Ryan to deliver for Racing 92

Donnacha Ryan is a favourite son of Nenagh and he will have significant support in Bilbao this weekend as Racing 92 set out to topple tournament favourites Leinster in the European decider.

North Tipperary rugby supporters, even those with a vague link to Leinster, won’t be holding back in their support of Ryan, whose popularity in the county goes beyond one sporting code.

Ryan’s youth coach was Pat Whelan who was typically shy of taking credit for the development of the big forward from underage rugby to stardom with Munster, Ireland, and now on to Paris.