The Ryan line: If Oli Jager comes to Munster, it's good business

MUNSTR-BOUND? Oli Jager of the Crusaders

John Ryan has welcomed the possibility of fellow tighthead prop Oli Jager joining Munster in the near future.

Irish-educated and qualified, Jager, 28, is currently finalising his departure from Crusaders, with whom he win five Super Rugby titles. The former Newbridge and Blackrock College student has been strongly linked with a return to Irish rugby and Munster appear favourites to sign the 6ft 5ins, 20 stones front rower.

Veteran tighthead Ryan, who spent last summer playing Super Rugby with the Chiefs and played against Jager and eventual champions the Crusaders in the Grand Final in June, said nothing to suggest his potential positional rival was moving anywhere else when speaking to the media Tuesday ahead of Munster’s URC home clash with the Stormers this Saturday.

"There's always that, there's always 'there's a fella coming in', but you've got to look at the reality of it... I don't know if it's happening or not, but I'm 35, Stephen Archer is 35 and there's going to have to be some progress in between us and (younger tightheads) Keynan Knox and Roman Salanoa.

"He's in between us, he's 28 and he's a very good lad. He's going to bring a wealth of experience and he's got a good few medals in his back pocket as well.

"I played against him. He played the final and maybe the second (regular season) game, but I spoke to him after three of the games last year, he was injured for the first one. He's a great fella, I think he had an appetite to come back to Ireland.

"I didn't think it'd be this soon, but he'll bring experience there if we get him."

Jager had harboured hopes of representing New Zealand at Test level, having joined the Crusaders in 2016. Yet he was overlooked by then All Blacks head coach Ian Foster last season and when he missed out on World Cup selection, his ambitions altered and a return to Ireland was back on the cards.

"I think he said down the line he'd like to,” Ryan added, “he kind of said he was getting away from the idea of playing for the All Blacks which had been his big target.

"He had a neck injury and a few little knocks the last few seasons and I think Fletcher Newell passed him out then. But he started the final and I think he went (77) minutes, had a great game, so he's got the ability anyway."

Jager’s signing has still to be confirmed and defence coach Denis Leamy was less forthcoming on the potential addition of the Crusaders prop.

“I don’t know anything about that. Wig (head coach Graham Rowntree) is the only man in this building who would know anything about that so I can’t help you on that one.

“I stood beside him once. He’s bigger and heavier than me so that’s all about all I know about him.”