A RAPID rise through the ranks has been rewarded as Clonakilty Rugby Club graduate Conor Ryan has signed a new two-year contract extension with Munster Rugby.

The deal, which keeps the West Cork native at the province until 2028, underlines the growing belief in the 22-year-old second row’s potential.

Ryan earned his first competitive Munster cap against Argentina XV at Thomond Park last November, just months after signing his initial contract with the province.

Currently lining out with UCC in the All-Ireland League, Ryan is following a similar pathway to established Munster flanker John Hodnett, another West Cork product of Clonakilty and UCC.

Ryan’s journey began at Clonakilty Rugby Club, where he played all his underage rugby and was part of the side that won the South Munster U18 league title in 2022. That same year, he stepped into adult rugby with the club at just 18, while also lining out for UCC U20s during the 2022/23 season.

His progress continued at senior level, making nine AIL appearances for UCC in 2023/24. The following campaign saw him break into the Munster senior set-up, debuting in a pre-season clash against Bath.

Ryan also made his mark in a mid-season fixture against Leicester Tigers, scoring a second-half try, while featuring four times for Munster A in the Interprovincial Series and racking up 17 AIL appearances for UCC.

This season, he has added three Munster A appearances and seven more outings for UCC as his development continues.

Munster general manager Ian Costello praised Ryan’s emergence as a model of the province’s recruitment strategy.

‘Conor is an excellent example of the breadth of Munster’s player identification and recruitment process, a real success story. Conor didn’t come through what might be considered a traditional route.

‘We’ve tracked Conor for a long time and, after a series of standout performances in the AIL, he was identified as a player of high potential and invited into a development training group in 2023. I must also commend the brilliant work of Clonakilty RFC and UCC RFC in helping develop Conor,’ Costello said.

Academy and pathway manager Gar Prendergast also highlighted the importance of club rugby in producing players like Ryan.

‘As Academy coaches, we watch as many games as possible every weekend. Along with tracking contracted players, we monitor all players to identify potential professional talent.

‘Conor is the perfect example of a player who emerges later, earns an opportunity off the back of strong club form and takes it with both hands. Our clubs are a cornerstone of Munster Rugby and Conor’s elevation is further proof of their importance,’ Prendergast added.