Kevin Ryan (rugby player)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kevin James Ryan born 1934, was an Australian rugby league and rugby union player - a dual international.
Born in the Darling Downs at Ipswich Queensland , Ryan's nickname 'Kandos' was after the New South Wales cement producing town due his toughness and fearlessness. He had been a Queensland amateur Boxing Champion and trialled for the 1960 Olympics.
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[edit] Dual international
He represented for the Wallabies in 5 Tests in 1958 debuting against England then playing four further tests against the All Blacks and the NZ Maori. He represented for the Kangaroos in 4 tour matches on the 1963 tour of Great Britain.
Along with Jim Lisle, Ryan made his international league debut in a tour match in England in 1963 but he did not play in any Tests on the tour. Collectively he and Lisle were Australia's 29th and 30th dual code rugby internationals.
[edit] St George career and playing style
He was a Front Rower or Second Row Forward with the St. George Dragons in the latter half of their 11 year consecutive premiership winning run from 1956 to 1966. He played 106 games for the club from 1960-1966, and played in seven winning Grand Finals.
Ryan took over the 'Hard Man' mantle in the St George forward pack from Billy Wilson. From 1960 to 1962 when Ryan, Wilson and Norm Provan played together the St George forward pack was lethal and menacing.
Ryan perfected a ball-and-all, one-on-one tackling style. He disdained gang tackling believing it was his individual responsibility to bring his man down hard without help. He would leave the ground each time he tackled , often winding his opponent with his shoulder, then bringing them to ground wrapped up , ball included.
[edit] Canterbury years
Ryan left St George at the end of the 1966 season unable to come to terms in negotiations and wanting to coach. In 1967, as Capt-Coach he led Canterbury in their 12-11 victory over St George in the Preliminary Final. He is therefore sometimes credited with bringing an end to the Dragons' premiership run. Certainly he was able to coach against and counter many of their tactics but the game had changed for all in 1967 with the introduction of the four tackle rule and the now maturing Dragons stars like all other teams in the competition, had to deal with a whole new style of game.
[edit] Politics after football
After retiring from football, Ryan became a barrister in 1970, and was Mayor of the City of Hurstville from 1974 to 1976. He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1976, defeating four-term Liberal MP Thomas Mead, and serving until 1984. He had previously made an unsuccessful bid for the seat in 1973.
[edit] Sources
- Writer, Larry (1995) Never Before, Never Again, Pan MacMillan, Sydney
