James Ryan keen to move on from Lions snub
Leinster and Ireland second-row James Ryan is keen to put the disappointment of missing out on selection for the British and Irish Lions behind him and is focusing on doing his best at club and Test level.
He was a surprise omission from the original 37-man Lions squad named by head coach Warren Gatland in May.
Also overlooked as Alun Wyn Jones’ replacement
The 25-year-old was also overlooked when Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones was injured during their opening match against Japan at Murrayfield, with fellow Wales lock Adam Beard being preferred as his replacement.
Ryan admitted that it was disappointing to miss out selection for the famous touring team on two occasions but said he is keen to move on from it.
“I was disappointed at the time, yeah,” he told RTE.
“It feels like a long time ago now, so at this stage I’m only really looking forward, and as I said it’s such an exciting season this year to look forward to.
“Delighted to be in the last few weeks and looking forward to hopefully getting stuck in again this week.
“No, I’m not interested in ruminating or anything, I’m just looking forward now and looking to get better as a player.”
When he named his squad, Gatland was queried about Ryan’s omission and he mentioned Leinster’s defeat to La Rochelle in their Champions Cup semi-final early in May.
Many critics felt Ryan and his Leinster team-mates’ inability to match the French outfit’s physicality cost them that game and him his Lions spot.
Ryan was asked if he had something to prove but said he would approach the 2021/22 campaign in a similar fashion to previous ones.
“Every season is a big season for me to be honest but I’m really excited about this season,” he revealed.
“The new United Rugby Championship has the nuts and bolts of being a really exciting competition and with the European Cup back this year with fans, and being an international year I’m looking forward to attacking it as well as I can.
“I’m always trying to keep growing, keep progressing my work in the set-piece, and then I suppose part of being a lock at this level it’s the nuts and bolts of the ruck, carry, tackle, always looking to keep getting better, to keep getting dominant in those areas.”