Patrick ‘Paddy’ John Ryan

Paddy Ryan was a country born tight head prop who embodied unbridled loyalty for whomever he played.

Raised in the New England region of New South Wales, Paddy first showed in rugby at the age of 10 for the Tamworth Tri Colours. Ryan transitioned from a “token” soccer goalkeeper for the Hillview Rovers to the front row of the Tri Colours, a position in which he remained for the entirety of his 25-year career.

Ryan was sent to Sydney where he boarded at the famous rugby nursery of St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill. He played one season in the College’s 1st XV (2006) and was part of the side that earned a rare three-way tie for the GPS title. Ryan won selection for Australian Schools only to then put his rugby career on hold for a year when he travelled to Ireland.

In 2007, he coached rugby at Clongowes Wood College in the heart of County Kildare. While Ryan ran around for the local Naas RFC U20s his gap year duties at Clongowes took priority. He returned to Australia in 2008 and was fast-tracked into the Junior Waratahs development system. Unfortunately, Ryan then waited three seasons for a first State cap, largely due to the presence of three Wallaby props - Benn Robinson, Al Baxter and Sekope Kepu, as well as future Wallaby Dan Palmer - in the Waratah squad.

Ryan eventually made his debut for New South Wales in their 2011, 23-16 home win over the Chiefs and a little over 18 months later was chosen for the Wallabies’ Spring Tour where he played his Test, against France in Paris. Ryan went on to become a mainstay of the Waratahs’ pack for the best part of a decade and in 2018 became the just the 14th Waratah centurion. While there were highs and lows throughout that period, there is little doubt that the side’s maiden Super Rugby triumph in 2014 was a standout highlight.

Sojourns to the United States and Japan were followed by a return to Super Rugby in 2022 where Ryan played his final four matches to finish with 113 state caps from nine seasons over 12 years.

Paddy Ryan played three Tests for Australia in a three-year international career.

Highlights

2006 Represented Australian Schools against Tonga U18s, Fijian Schools and New Zealand Schools.

2012 Ryan won a place in the Wallabies’ end-of-season Spring Tour and picked up his first Test cap as a replacement in the 33-6 victory over France in Paris.

2013 For a second year running Ryan was selected on the Wallabies’ Spring Tour where he won his second cap, again as a replacement, in the 32-15 victory over Ireland in Dublin.

2014 Ryan made one appearance for the Wallabies, his first on home soil, a 27-minute cameo off the bench in the 1st Test 50-23 win over France in Brisbane.