Munster and Ireland tighthead prop John Ryan set to join Wasps

Munster and Irish tighthead prop John Ryan is set to join Wasps from next season onwards after agreeing a deal with the Premiership club. The 33-year-old Corkman has played 184 times for Munster, as well as winning 24 caps for Ireland, but is moving on after 11 seasons with his native province.

Ryan has remained part of Munster’s big-match squad for much of that time, and this season started the pool win at home to Castres after being one of those ruled out of the first game against Wasps. He also played the last quarter of the victories over Castres away and Wasps at Thomond Park last Sunday.

However, although a highly regarded scrummager with a few more years left in him, it is understood that in retaining Stephen Archer, Keynan Knox and Roman Salanoa, Munster had not offered Ryan a new contract.

Having made his Irish debut against Canada at the Aviva Stadium in November 2016, Ryan won the most recent of his 24 Test caps against Japan last July. But now, free of international commitments, he will be fully available to Wasps at all times and could represent a shrewd piece of business by the Coventry-based club.