Rugby Union: Ryan set to join Bristol's revival

DEAN RYAN, the former England No 8 who has fought more battles on the rugby field than he ever managed as a career soldier, yesterday emerged as the clear favourite to replace his old rival David Egerton as Bristol's forwards coach. If the 32-year- old Newcastle captain completes his expected move next week, the West Countrymen will be able to boast the most potent backroom team in the English game.

Bob Dwyer, the World Cup-winning Australian coach, and Jack Rowell, the former England coach who masterminded a decade of unparalleled success at neighbouring Bath, are already in place at the Memorial Ground, as is Darryl Jones, the backs specialist from Neath. Dwyer, very much the driving force behind Bristol's surge to the top of Allied Dunbar Premiership Two, sees Ryan as the last piece in his training ground jigsaw.

"As far as I know, Newcastle have not yet agreed to release Dean; negotiations are continuing and I hope to make an announcement next week," Dwyer said yesterday. "Because we are a new team, we do not have an excess of leaders. By virtue of his stature as a player and as a leader, Ryan would be an important addition." There was not so much as a murmur from Newcastle. However, Kingston Park officials were privately resigned to Ryan's departure.

Ryan joined Newcastle from Wasps a little over three years ago, teaming up with two old club-mates, Rob Andrew and Steve Bates, to reinvent the Falcons as a state-of-the-art professional outfit. The project was a phenomenal triumph - Newcastle won promotion to the top flight in 1997 before winning the Allied Dunbar title at their first attempt last May - and while Andrew, as director of rugby, was undeniably the architect, his captain was the master mason. An unexpected by-product of his autumnal success came last March, when he was recalled to the England side for the Calcutta Cup match in Scotland, his first international appearance in six years.

Last month, though, Ryan entered hospital for an operation on his neck and was advised by specialists that he would miss the remainder of the season. Newcastle's apparent reluctance to extend his playing contract - they want him to concentrate on coaching - is almost certainly a major factor behind his decision to talk to Bristol, who will encourage him to continue his active career.

If the Memorial Grounders finally get their man, it will be another feather in the cap of Malcolm Pearce, the millionaire businessman and self-confessed rugby nut who bought the club out of receivership during the summer. Pearce's money has allowed Dwyer to make a fistful of influential acquisitions.

Ulster intend to expand the capacity of their Ravenhill stadium to 20,000 for the European Cup semi-final with Stade Francais tomorrow week.

"The organisers of the tournament were keen to maximise the attendance and by erecting temporary stands and using all the available space, we've managed to comply with their wishes," Michael Reid, the Ulster chief executive, said. "We've already shifted more than 14,000 tickets and we're pretty certain of pulling in a full house for the game."

The Irishmen originally wanted to play the game under lights next Friday night, but the French favourites were having none of it; an understandable reaction in the light of the startling indignities suffered by Toulouse in recent weeks. Ulster beat the 1996 champions twice in quick succession, once in a pool match and then in an explosive quarter-final.

"I think we'd have preferred to stick with the tried and trusted Friday routine," Reid admitted. "We've attracted some fantastic support throughout the tournament and the special atmosphere of a big game under lights has definitely been a contributory factor. Still, we're committed to the Saturday kick-off now and once we pack the crowd in and get a few drums banging, we'll give Stade Francais something to think about."