Pride amid defeat as John Ryan reaches Munster 250th appearance milestone

“It kind of hit me then, and it was nice because my family came, my sister was back from Boston watching, and she came to the game, my dad was there. It was great for him to come again as he hadn’t been there in a while. So, it was just lovely to get that after, and it was just a pity with the result.” 

Munster's John Ryan leaves the field after making his 250th appearance for the club

There was pride as well as the disappointment of defeat at Thomond Park as John Ryan reflected with family after his 250th appearance for Munster.

The 37-year-old had bided his time following his 249th outing for his home province, the body at a self-confessed “ripe age” requiring some recharging having shouldered the burden of an injury-hit tighthead prop unit over the opening weeks of this, a 15th season at professional rugby’s coalface.