Dean Ryan
Encyclopedia
Dean Ryan is a former corporal
in the Corp of Royal Engineers and England
Rugby Union
Number 8, and was Head Coach at Guinness Premiership
side Gloucester Rugby.
, Wasps
, Newcastle
and Bristol
. Regarded as one of the most competitive and robust forwards of his generation he saw league success twice during his career with Wasps (89-90), and captained Newcastle to league success on the first attempt during the 97-98 season. He was awarded six England caps during his career with his International debut against Argentina in 1990.
. Following Melville's departure from Gloucester Rugby in 2005, Ryan was appointed to the Head Coach role which he held through the 2008-09 season.
During his time at Gloucester Rugby, Ryan has assembled a team featuring a number of highly talented youngsters, and has put together a back-line considered by many to be one of the most exciting in English club rugby. Following the dismissal of Andy Robinson
as England head coach, Dean Ryan was amongst the favourites to be his successor. However Ryan stated that he was committed to his role at Gloucester Rugby and had not considered leaving as he believes that he has not yet finished his work at the club. Under Ryan's guidance Gloucester Rugby has enjoyed three successful seasons, and began the 2007-08 campaign
as favourites for the Guinness Premiership
- which ultimately Gloucester failed to live up to - losing at home to Leicester in the Play Off semi final.
Unfortunately Ryan has failed to deliver the anticipated trophies at Gloucester. A few Gloucester fans credit this lack of success to poor tactics; others, however, attribute the lack of success to disruptive influences. On 11 June 2009, Gloucester announced that Ryan had left the club by mutual consent.
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
in the Corp of Royal Engineers and England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
Number 8, and was Head Coach at Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
side Gloucester Rugby.
Playing career
During his on-field career Ryan played for SaracensSaracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
, Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
, Newcastle
Newcastle Falcons
The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
and Bristol
Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
. Regarded as one of the most competitive and robust forwards of his generation he saw league success twice during his career with Wasps (89-90), and captained Newcastle to league success on the first attempt during the 97-98 season. He was awarded six England caps during his career with his International debut against Argentina in 1990.
Coaching career
Ryan moved into coaching while at Bristol, taking the reins at the club for the beginning of the 2000-01 season, and took the club to the Zurich Championship Final in 2002 where they lost to Gloucester Rugby. Ryan moved to Gloucester Rugby after this as Assistant Head Coach under Nigel MelvilleNigel Melville
Nigel David Melville is a former England national rugby union team scrum half and captain.He became the youngest player to captain England on his début when he led them against Australia in November 1984. He went onto make another twelve appearances over the next four years.He attended Aireborough...
. Following Melville's departure from Gloucester Rugby in 2005, Ryan was appointed to the Head Coach role which he held through the 2008-09 season.
During his time at Gloucester Rugby, Ryan has assembled a team featuring a number of highly talented youngsters, and has put together a back-line considered by many to be one of the most exciting in English club rugby. Following the dismissal of Andy Robinson
Andy Robinson
Richard Andrew 'Andy' Robinson OBE is an English rugby union coach and retired player. He is currently the head coach of Scotland.Robinson played as an openside flanker for Bath, England and the British and Irish Lions...
as England head coach, Dean Ryan was amongst the favourites to be his successor. However Ryan stated that he was committed to his role at Gloucester Rugby and had not considered leaving as he believes that he has not yet finished his work at the club. Under Ryan's guidance Gloucester Rugby has enjoyed three successful seasons, and began the 2007-08 campaign
2007-08 Guinness Premiership
The 2007–08 Guinness Premiership was the 21st season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions, played between September 2007 and May 2008. Due to the 2007 Rugby World Cup the season started slightly later than normal, as England were trying to defend their title...
as favourites for the Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
- which ultimately Gloucester failed to live up to - losing at home to Leicester in the Play Off semi final.
Unfortunately Ryan has failed to deliver the anticipated trophies at Gloucester. A few Gloucester fans credit this lack of success to poor tactics; others, however, attribute the lack of success to disruptive influences. On 11 June 2009, Gloucester announced that Ryan had left the club by mutual consent.