Cork boy Ryan settling in at Ulster

Born and raised in Cork, Ryan graduated through the Munster system and went onto make ten PRO12 appearances for his native province.

In 2011 a switch to Lazio Roma took him overseas before two seasons with Zebre, back in the PRO12, in which he turned out 23 times in the league.

Now 28, Ryan has returned to Ireland but is not with Munster - and he is expecting some grief from back home when he pulls on an Ulster shirt for the first time.

"I think that it might have been difficult if I had gone straight from Munster to Ulster," he told the club website.

"But the fact that I have been in Zebre for two years and I have been back at Thomond and back at Musgrave makes it easier.

"It is obviously a bit weird but at the end of the day, it is a profession and you just have to get on with it. I am sure the boys down there will give me a bit of stick but I am looking forward to it."

Ryan is not expecting to walk straight into the Ulster side, as the likes of Declan Fitzpatrick, Wiehahn Herbst and Ricky Lutton provide competition for the shirt.

However, he insists he has settled in well in Belfast and the start of the season cannot come soon enough.

"You know that there is going to be a lot of competition in my position," added Ryan. "You have your own personal goals - I have come here to play, to start as many games as possible and to play in the big matches.

"That's what makes squads better - to have guys competing for places because competition breeds success.

"It has been good, the facilities are top class. They are the best that I have experienced. The strength and conditioning coaches have been brilliant and they have an excellent grasp of what they want. It has been a tough start as pre-season should be."

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