Kevin Ryan (rugby)

Infobox Rugby biography
name=Kevin Ryan
birthname=Kevin James Ryan
nickname = Kandos
dateofbirth=Birth date and age|1934|8|26|df=yes
placeofbirth = flagicon|AUS Ipswich, Queensland
height=
weight=
ru_position= Tighthead Prop
ru_amateurclubs=
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalyears = 1958
ru_nationalteam = flagicon|AUS Australia
ru_nationalcaps = 5
ru_nationalpoints =
ru_ntupdate = 31 December, 2007
super14 =
super14caps =
super14points =
super14years = 2001, 2003-2004
super14update = 31 December, 2007
ru_province =
ru_provinceyears =
ru_provincecaps =
ru_provincepoints =
ru_provinceupdate = 31 December, 2007
ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam =
ru_sevensnationalcomp =
ru_sevensupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
rl_position = Prop forward
sooyears = 1962–1964
sooteam =
sooteam pre-1980 = yes
soocaps = 7
soopoints = (4)
rl_nationalteam = flagicon|AUS Australia
rl_nationalyears = 1963–1964
rl_nationalcaps = 2
rl_nationalpoints = (8)

rl_ntupdate = 31 December, 2007
rl_amateuryears =
rl_amateurclubs = Ipswich
rl_amupdate = 31 December, 2007
rl_clubyears = 1960–1966
1967–1969
rl_proclubs =
rl_clubcaps = 106
52
rl_clubpoints = (57)
(15)
rl_clubupdate = 31 December, 2007
other = yes
occupation = Lawyer/Politician
family = Matthew Ryan (Father)
May Helena (Mother)
spouse = Janette Radford
Fiona Stewart
children = 2 daughters, 4 sons
relatives =
school = Nudgee College 1948-52
university = University of Queensland
University of Sydney
AGSM

Kevin James Ryan, born 26 August, 1934 in Ipswich, Queensland), is a former Australian state parliamentarian and local mayor, and a dual rugby league and rugby union international representative. Nicknamed 'Kandos' after the New South Wales cement producing town due to his toughness, Ryan was also a Queensland amateur boxing champion in 1958 and 1959, and trialled for the 1960 Olympics.

Dual international

He was a member of the Wallabies in five tests in 1958, debuting against England, then playing four further tests against the All Blacks, and the NZ Maori All Blacks.

He was a member of the Kangaroos in four 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. He later represented Australia in two domestic tests against France in 1964.

t 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 formidable. 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.Writer, p. 405-407]

Canterbury years

Ryan left St George at the end of the 1966 season unable to come to terms in negotiations and wanting to coach. Writer, p. 409] In 1967, as captain-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.

He led Canterbury to the 1967 Grand Final against South Sydney and was captain-coach at the club through to the middle of the 1969 season when he retired due to injury. He continued on as coach that year and for the 1970 season. He played 52 games for Canterbury, scoring five tries.

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 as the Australian Labor Party member for Hurstville in 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.cite web
title =Mr Kevin James Ryan (1934 - )
work =Members of Parliament
publisher =Parliament of New South Wales
url =http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/1fb6ebed995667c2ca256ea100825164/92ed3ea6dbf4627dca256e55001f2eae!OpenDocument
accessdate = 2007-04-27 ]

Ryan was President of the Rugby League Players Association for many years and a sports commentator with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 1970 to 1973.

Accolades

In 2000 Ryan was awarded the Australian Sports Medal. In 2004 he was named at prop-forward for the Berries to Bulldogs 70 Year Team of Champions On April 1 2007 he was inducted into the Bulldogs Ring of Champions.

Notes

ources

* Andrews, Malcolm (2006) "The ABC of Rugby League" Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
* Writer, Larry (1995) "Never Before, Never Again", Pan MacMillan, Sydney
* Whiticker, Alan & Hudson, Glen (2006) "The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players", Gavin Allen Publishing, Sydney

External links

* [http://www.eraofthebiff.com/p27a.html Kevin Ryan at eraofthebiff.com]