Jump to content

Kevin Ryan (rugby): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
 
(38 intermediate revisions by 23 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Australian politician, rugby union footballer, and rugby league footballer and coach}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Kevin Ryan
|name = Kevin Ryan
|fullname = Kevin James Ryan
|fullname = Kevin James Ryan
|nickname = Kandos
|image =
|image =
|image_size =
|image_size =
|caption =
|caption = Kevin Ryan. 1965
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1934|8|26|df=yes}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1934|8|26|df=yes}}
|birth_place = [[Ipswich, Queensland]]<ref name="scrum" />
|birth_place = [[Ipswich, Queensland]]<ref name="scrum" />
Line 17: Line 17:
|first = RU
|first = RU
|ru_position = [[Rugby union positions#1. Loosehead prop .26 3. Tighthead prop|Tighthead Prop]]
|ru_position = [[Rugby union positions#1. Loosehead prop .26 3. Tighthead prop|Tighthead Prop]]
|ru_club1 = [[Image:Brothers_Rugby_Colours.svg|20px|.]] [[Brothers Old Boys|Brothers]]
|ru_club1 = [[Image:Brothers Rugby Colours.svg|20px|.]] [[Brothers Old Boys|Brothers]]
|ru_year1start = 1954
|ru_year1start = 1954
|ru_year1end = 1959
|ru_year1end = 1959
Line 25: Line 25:
|ru_fieldgoals1 =
|ru_fieldgoals1 =
|ru_points1 =
|ru_points1 =
|ru_club2 =
|ru_year2start =
|ru_year2end =
|ru_appearances2 =
|ru_tries2 =
|ru_goals2 =
|ru_fieldgoals2 =
|ru_points2 =
|ru_club3 =
|ru_year3start =
|ru_year3end =
|ru_appearances3 =
|ru_tries3 =
|ru_goals3 =
|ru_fieldgoals3 =
|ru_points3 =
|ru_teamA = [[Queensland rugby union team|Queensland]]
|ru_teamA = [[Queensland rugby union team|Queensland]]
|ru_yearAstart = 1954
|ru_yearAstart = 1954
|ru_yearAend = 1959
|ru_yearAend = 59
|ru_appearancesA =
|ru_appearancesA =
|ru_triesA =
|ru_triesA =
Line 51: Line 35:
|ru_teamB = [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]]
|ru_teamB = [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]]
|ru_yearBstart = 1957
|ru_yearBstart = 1957
|ru_yearBend = 1958
|ru_yearBend = 58
|ru_appearancesB = 5
|ru_appearancesB = 5
|ru_triesB =
|ru_triesB =
Line 66: Line 50:
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 57
|points1 = 57
|club2 = [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs|Canterbury-Bnkstwn.]]
|club2 = {{nowrap|[[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs|Canterbury-Bankstown]]}}
|year2start = 1967
|year2start = 1967
|year2end = 69
|year2end = 69
Line 74: Line 58:
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 15
|points2 = 15
|club3 =
|year3start =
|year3end =
|appearances3 =
|tries3 =
|goals3 =
|fieldgoals3 =
|points3 =
|teamA = [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]]
|teamA = [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]]
|yearAstart = 1962
|yearAstart = 1962
Line 106: Line 82:
|fieldgoalsC = 0
|fieldgoalsC = 0
|pointsC = 0
|pointsC = 0
⚫
|coachteam1 = {{nowrap|[[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs|Canterbury-Bankstown]]}}
|teamD =
|yearDstart =
|yearDend =
|appearancesD =
|triesD =
|goalsD =
|fieldgoalsD =
⚫
|coachteam1 = [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs|Canterbury-Bnkstwn.]]
|coachyear1start = 1967
|coachyear1start = 1967
|coachyear1end = 70
|coachyear1end = 70
Line 123: Line 92:
|source =
|source =
}}
}}

'''Kevin James Ryan''', born 26 August 1934 in [[Ipswich, Queensland]] is an Australian, former [[Parliament of New South Wales|state parliamentarian]] and local [[mayor]], [[barrister]] and advocate. In the 1950s and 1960s he was an Australian [[List of dual-code rugby internationals|dual-code rugby international]] representative and had previously been a [[Queensland]] amateur boxing champion in 1958 and 1959, who trialled for the [[1960 Summer Olympics|1960 Olympics]].
'''Kevin James Ryan''' (born 26 August 1934) is an Australian former [[Parliament of New South Wales|state parliamentarian]] and local [[mayor]], [[barrister]] and advocate. In the 1950s and 1960s he was an Australian [[List of dual-code rugby internationals|dual-code rugby international]] representative and had previously been a [[Queensland]] amateur boxing champion in 1958 and 1959, who trialled for the [[1960 Summer Olympics|1960 Olympics]].


==Background==
==Background==
Raised in the [[Somerset Region]] in [[Linville, Queensland]]<ref name="Writer"/> to May Helena Ryan and her husband Matthew a bushman and horseman, he learnt the rudiments of boxing as a young boy.<ref name="Writer">Writer p405-409</ref> He attended boarding-school for his high-school years at [[St Joseph's College, Nudgee]]<ref name=Nudgee>{{cite web
Raised in the [[Somerset Region]] in [[Linville, Queensland]]<ref name="Writer"/> to [[Irish Australians|Irish-Australian]] [[Irish Catholics|Roman Catholic]] parents, May Helena Ryan and her husband Matthew a bushman and horseman, he learnt the rudiments of boxing as a young boy.<ref name="Writer">Writer p405-409</ref> He attended boarding school for his high school years at [[St Joseph's College, Nudgee]]<ref name=Nudgee>{{cite web
| title =Mr Kevin Ryan
| title =Mr Kevin Ryan
| work =Nudgee Old Boy
| work =Nudgee Old Boy
| publisher = [[St Joseph's College, Nudgee]]
| publisher =[[St Joseph's College, Nudgee]]
| url =http://oldweb.nudgee.com/06News&Events/nudgee_wallaby_legends.htm
| url =http://oldweb.nudgee.com/06News&Events/nudgee_wallaby_legends.htm
| access-date =18 July 2011
⚫
| accessdate =18 July 2011 }}</ref> from 1948-52 where he started to play [[rugby union]].
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080722064013/http://oldweb.nudgee.com/06News%26Events/nudgee_wallaby_legends.htm
| archive-date =22 July 2008
| url-status =dead
⚫
}}</ref> from 1948 to 1952 where he started to play [[rugby union]].


==Rugby union career==
==Rugby union career==
After school Ryan played seven seasons with the [[Brothers Old Boys|Brisbane Brothers]] club from 1953 to 1959. In the Writer interview he refers to a senior [[player-coach]] role that he performed in his final two years at the club <ref name="Writer"/> and he spoke of the loyalty he felt to the club in 1959 when having agreed terms with [[St. George Dragons|St George]] and having achieved his rugby union representative ambitions, he played out the 1959 season with [[Brothers Old Boys|Brothers]] and helped them win the 1959 Brisbane Club Premiership.<ref name="Writer"/>
After school Ryan played seven seasons with the [[Brothers Old Boys|Brisbane Brothers]] club from 1953 to 1959. In the Writer interview he refers to a senior [[player-coach]] role that he performed in his final two years at the club<ref name="Writer"/> and he spoke of the loyalty he felt to the club in 1959 when having agreed terms with [[St. George Dragons|St George]] and having achieved his rugby union representative ambitions, he played out the 1959 season with [[Brothers Old Boys|Brothers]] and helped them win the 1959 Brisbane Club Premiership.<ref name="Writer"/>


He was selected in the squad for the [[1957–58 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and France]]. He made his international representative debut in the 3rd Test match of the tour, that against [[England national rugby union team]] at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]] on 1 February 1958.<ref name="scrum" >{{cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/19908.html|title=Scrum.com player profile of Kevin Ryan|publisher=Scrum.com|accessdate=18 July 2011}}</ref> Australian were beaten 9-6. Following the tour's end he made four further appearances for the [[Australia national rugby union team|Wallabies]] in 1958, firstly against a visiting [[New Zealand Māori rugby union team|NZ Maori All Blacks]] side and then in all three Tests against the [[All Blacks]] on the Wallabies 1958 tour of New Zealand.<ref name="scrum" />
He was selected in the squad for the [[1957–58 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and France]]. He made his international representative debut in the 3rd Test match of the tour, that against [[England national rugby union team]] at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]] on 1 February 1958.<ref name="scrum" >{{cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/19908.html|title=Scrum.com player profile of Kevin Ryan|publisher=Scrum.com|access-date=18 July 2011}}</ref> Australian were beaten 9–6. Following the tour's end he made four further appearances for the [[Australia national rugby union team|Wallabies]] in 1958, firstly against a visiting [[New Zealand Māori rugby union team|NZ Maori All Blacks]] side and then in all three Tests against the [[All Blacks]] on the Wallabies 1958 tour of New Zealand.<ref name="scrum" />


==Rugby league career==
==Rugby league career==


===St. George===
===St. George===
He was a [[Rugby league positions#The front row|front rower]] or [[Rugby League positions#second row forward|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 (rugby league)|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.<ref name="Writer"/>
He was a [[Rugby league positions#The front row|front rower]] or [[Rugby league positions#second row forward|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 to 1966, and played in seven winning grand finals. Ryan took over the 'Hard Man' mantle in the St George forward pack from [[Billy Wilson (Australian rugby league)|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.<ref name="Writer"/>


During his footballing career Ryan was nicknamed 'Kandos' after the [[Kandos, New South Wales|New South Wales cement producing town]] due to his on-field toughness.
During his footballing career Ryan was nicknamed 'Kandos' after the [[Kandos, New South Wales|New South Wales cement producing town]] due to his on-field toughness.
Line 148: Line 122:


===Canterbury-Bankstown===
===Canterbury-Bankstown===
Ryan left St George at the end of the 1966 season unable to come to terms in negotiations and wanting to coach.<ref name="Writer"/> In 1967, as captain-coach, he led [[Canterbury Bulldogs|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.
Ryan left St George at the end of the 1966 season unable to come to terms in negotiations and wanting to coach.<ref name="Writer"/> In 1967, as captain-coach, he led [[Canterbury Bulldogs|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 [[New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1967#Grand Final|1967 Grand Final]] against [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|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.
He led Canterbury to the [[New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1967#Grand Final|1967 Grand Final]] against [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|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 football==
After retiring from football, Ryan became a [[barrister]] in 1970, and was an Alderman or Mayor of the [[City of Hurstville]] from 1974 to 1979. He was elected as the [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|Labor Party]] member for [[Electoral district of Hurstville|Hurstville]] in the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]] in 1976, defeating four-term [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|Liberal]] MP [[Thomas Mead]], and serving until 1984. He had previously made an unsuccessful bid for the seat in 1973.<ref name=nsw>{{cite web
After retiring from football, Ryan became a [[barrister]] in 1970, and was an Alderman or Mayor of the [[City of Hurstville]] from 1974 to 1979. He was elected as the [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|Labor Party]] member for [[Electoral district of Hurstville|Hurstville]] in the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]] in 1976, defeating four-term [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|Liberal]] MP [[Tom Mead]],<ref>{{Cite NSW election |year=1976 |district=Bankstown |access-date=23 September 2019}}</ref> and serving until 1984.<ref name=nsw>{{cite NSW Parliament |title =Mr Kevin James Ryan (1934- ) |id=1922 |former=Yes |access-date=13 May 2019 }}</ref> He had previously made an unsuccessful bid for the seat in 1973.<ref>{{Cite NSW election |year=1973 |district=Bankstown |access-date=23 September 2019}}</ref> Ryan was defeated by Liberal candidate [[Guy Yeomans]] at the [[Results of the 1984 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly)#Bankstown|1984 election]].<ref>{{Cite NSW election |year=1984 |district=Bankstown |access-date=23 September 2019}}</ref> The result was considered a minor upset as Labor comfortably won the election overall. Ryan's critics within the Labor Party suggested that he had failed to nurse the electorate sufficiently. Ryan contested the [[1987 Bankstown state by-election|1987 Bankstown by-election]] as an independent in opposition to the official Labor candidate. He polled 18.6% but was third behind the Labor candidate [[Doug Shedden (politician)|Doug Shedden]].<ref name="Green Bankstown 1987 by-election">{{Cite NSW election |title=1987 Bankstown by-election |year=1984 |district=Bankstown_1 |access-date=23 September 2019}}</ref> He contested the electorate again as an independent at the [[Results of the 1988 New South Wales state election (Legislative Assembly)#Bankstown|1988 election]] but was again defeated with 18.7% of the vote.<ref name="Green Bankstown 1988">{{Cite NSW election |year=1988 |district=Bankstown |access-date=23 September 2019}}</ref>
| 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
| accessdate =22 February 2010 }}</ref> Ryan was defeated by Liberal candidate [[Guy Yeomans]] at the [[New South Wales state election, 1984|1984 New South Wales Legislative Assembly election]]. The result was considered a minor upset as Labor comfortably won the election overall. Ryan's critics within the Labor Party suggested that he had failed to nurse the electorate sufficiently. That he completed an [http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/1fb6ebed995667c2ca256ea100825164/92ed3ea6dbf4627dca256e55001f2eae MBA in 1982-83] may suggest his attention was elsewhere. Ryan contested the [https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/resources/nswelectionsanalysis/1984/Bankstown_1.htm 1987 Bankstown by-election] as an independent in opposition to the official Labor candidate. He polled 18.6% but was defeated by the Labor candidate Doug Shedden. He contested the electorate again as an independent at the 1988 [[New South Wales state election, 1988|New South Wales Legislative Assembly election]] but was again [https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/resources/nswelectionsanalysis/1988/Bankstown.htm defeated with 18.7% of the vote].


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 where he usually worked alongside Alan Marks commentating on NSWRFL games. As of 2011 he still practices as a [[barrister]] at the Selborne Chambers in Sydney.
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 where he usually worked alongside Alan Marks commentating on NSWRFL games. {{As of|2019}} he still practises as a [[barrister]] at Selborne Chambers in Sydney.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mr K J Ryan |url=http://find-a-barrister.nswbar.asn.au/profile/kevin-ryan-1189 |work=Find-a Barrister |publisher=NSW Bar Association |access-date=23 September 2019}}</ref>


==Accolades==
==Accolades==
Line 167: Line 136:
==Notes==
==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist|30em}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-sport}}
{{Succession box
| before = [[Roger Pearman]]<br>1966
| after = [[Bob Hagan (rugby league)|Bob Hagan]]<br>1971–1972
| title = [[List of Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs coaches|Coach]]<br>{{leagueicon|canterbury|size=18}}<br>[[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs|Canterbury-Bankstown]]
| years = 1967–1970
}}
{{S-end}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
Line 174: Line 153:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.eraofthebiff.com/p27a.html Kevin Ryan at eraofthebiff.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071005031109/http://www.eraofthebiff.com/p27a.html Kevin Ryan at eraofthebiff.com]
*[http://oldweb.nudgee.com/06News&Events/nudgee_wallaby_legends.htm Nudgee Wallaby Legends]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080722064013/http://oldweb.nudgee.com/06News%26Events/nudgee_wallaby_legends.htm Nudgee Wallaby Legends]
*{{ESPNscrum|6223}}
*[http://www.espnscrum.com/australia/rugby/player/6223.html Ryan rugby career at scrum.com]


{{St. George Dragons squad 1960 NSWRFL premiership}}
{{St. George Dragons squad 1960 NSWRFL premiership}}
Line 187: Line 166:
{{1963-64 Kangaroo Tour squad}}
{{1963-64 Kangaroo Tour squad}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryan, Kevin James}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryan, Kevin}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australia international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Australia international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Australia national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Australia national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Australian male boxers]]
[[Category:Australian rugby league coaches]]
[[Category:Australian rugby league coaches]]
[[Category:Australian rugby league players]]
[[Category:Australian rugby league players]]
[[Category:Australian rugby union players]]
[[Category:Australian rugby union players]]
[[Category:Australian sportsperson-politicians]]
[[Category:Australian sportsperson-politicians]]
[[Category:Australian people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Brothers Old Boys players]]
[[Category:Brothers Old Boys players]]
[[Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs captains]]
[[Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs coaches]]
[[Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs coaches]]
[[Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players]]
[[Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players]]
[[Category:City New South Wales rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Clive Churchill Medal winners]]
[[Category:Clive Churchill Medal winners]]
[[Category:Dual-code rugby internationals]]
[[Category:Dual-code rugby internationals]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mayors of Hurstville]]
[[Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:People from Ipswich, Queensland]]
[[Category:New South Wales rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Ipswich, Queensland]]
[[Category:Rugby league props]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Ipswich, Queensland]]
[[Category:St. George Dragons players]]
[[Category:St. George Dragons players]]
[[Category:New South Wales rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Rugby union props]]
[[Category:City New South Wales rugby league team players]]
[[Category:People educated at St Joseph's College, Nudgee]]
[[Category:Australian male boxers]]
[[Category:Queensland rugby union team players]]
[[Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen]]

Latest revision as of 06:29, 26 November 2024

Kevin Ryan
Personal information
Full nameKevin James Ryan
Born (1934-08-26) 26 August 1934 (age 90)
Ipswich, Queensland[1]
Playing information
Rugby union
PositionTighthead Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1954–1959 . Brothers
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1954–59 Queensland
1957–58 Australia 5
Rugby league
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1960–66 St. George Dragons 106 19 0 0 57
1967–69 Canterbury-Bankstown 52 5 0 0 15
Total 158 24 0 0 72
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1962–66 New South Wales 8 1 0 0 3
1963–66 City NSW 3 0 0 0 0
1964 Australia 2 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1967–70 Canterbury-Bankstown 96 51 2 43 53

Kevin James Ryan (born 26 August 1934) is an Australian former state parliamentarian and local mayor, barrister and advocate. In the 1950s and 1960s he was an Australian dual-code rugby international representative and had previously been a Queensland amateur boxing champion in 1958 and 1959, who trialled for the 1960 Olympics.

Background

[edit]

Raised in the Somerset Region in Linville, Queensland[2] to Irish-Australian Roman Catholic parents, May Helena Ryan and her husband Matthew a bushman and horseman, he learnt the rudiments of boxing as a young boy.[2] He attended boarding school for his high school years at St Joseph's College, Nudgee[3] from 1948 to 1952 where he started to play rugby union.

Rugby union career

[edit]

After school Ryan played seven seasons with the Brisbane Brothers club from 1953 to 1959. In the Writer interview he refers to a senior player-coach role that he performed in his final two years at the club[2] and he spoke of the loyalty he felt to the club in 1959 when having agreed terms with St George and having achieved his rugby union representative ambitions, he played out the 1959 season with Brothers and helped them win the 1959 Brisbane Club Premiership.[2]

He was selected in the squad for the 1957–58 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and France. He made his international representative debut in the 3rd Test match of the tour, that against England national rugby union team at Twickenham on 1 February 1958.[1] Australian were beaten 9–6. Following the tour's end he made four further appearances for the Wallabies in 1958, firstly against a visiting NZ Maori All Blacks side and then in all three Tests against the All Blacks on the Wallabies 1958 tour of New Zealand.[1]

Rugby league career

[edit]

St. George

[edit]

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 to 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.[2]

During his footballing career Ryan was nicknamed 'Kandos' after the New South Wales cement producing town due to his on-field toughness.

He was selected in the squad for the 1963 Kangaroos tour of Great Britain and played in four tour matches on the tour. 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, making his Test debut in 1964 in the 2nd Test in July 1964 at Lang Park, Brisbane. Ryan is listed on the Australian Players Register as Kangaroo No. 386.[4]

Canterbury-Bankstown

[edit]

Ryan left St George at the end of the 1966 season unable to come to terms in negotiations and wanting to coach.[2] 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

[edit]

After retiring from football, Ryan became a barrister in 1970, and was an Alderman or Mayor of the City of Hurstville from 1974 to 1979. He was elected as the Labor Party member for Hurstville in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1976, defeating four-term Liberal MP Tom Mead,[5] and serving until 1984.[6] He had previously made an unsuccessful bid for the seat in 1973.[7] Ryan was defeated by Liberal candidate Guy Yeomans at the 1984 election.[8] The result was considered a minor upset as Labor comfortably won the election overall. Ryan's critics within the Labor Party suggested that he had failed to nurse the electorate sufficiently. Ryan contested the 1987 Bankstown by-election as an independent in opposition to the official Labor candidate. He polled 18.6% but was third behind the Labor candidate Doug Shedden.[9] He contested the electorate again as an independent at the 1988 election but was again defeated with 18.7% of the vote.[10]

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 where he usually worked alongside Alan Marks commentating on NSWRFL games. As of 2019 he still practises as a barrister at Selborne Chambers in Sydney.[11]

Accolades

[edit]

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 1 April 2007 he was inducted into the Bulldogs Ring of Champions.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Scrum.com player profile of Kevin Ryan". Scrum.com. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Writer p405-409
  3. ^ "Mr Kevin Ryan". Nudgee Old Boy. St Joseph's College, Nudgee. Archived from the original on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  4. ^ ARL Annual Report 2005, page 54
  5. ^ Green, Antony. "1976 Bankstown". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Mr Kevin James Ryan (1934- )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  7. ^ Green, Antony. "1973 Bankstown". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  8. ^ Green, Antony. "1984 Bankstown". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  9. ^ Green, Antony. "1987 Bankstown by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  10. ^ Green, Antony. "1988 Bankstown". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Mr K J Ryan". Find-a Barrister. NSW Bar Association. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Coach

Canterbury-Bankstown
1967–1970 		Succeeded by
Bob Hagan
1971–1972

Sources

[edit]
  • 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
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Kevin_Ryan_(rugby)&oldid=1259635544"