The Connacht head fitness advisor for the past eight years, Des Ryan, will be leaving the province at the end of the season after being promoted to the position of IRFU Fitness Development Manager. The 33-year old from Aughrim in Co. Galway will be responsible for developing and managing the fitness programme at age grade rugby in schools and clubs throughout the country.

PROMOTED . . . Fitness advisor Des Ryan who has been promoted to the IRFU Fitness Development Manager and who will take charge of the long-term player development programme in schools and clubs throughout the country.

A graduate of St Mary's University College at Strawberry Hill in Twickenham, Ryan will also manage the in-house education for fitness staff of the IRFU, as well as managing the Certified Conditioning Programme ran by the IRFU.

The former Garbally College student joined Connacht a decade ago as a development officer and fitness advisor and in 2000 was appointed Connacht Senior Head Fitness Advisor.

"I have enjoyed my time with Connacht and it is great to see the progress that has been made. "But this a new challenge and one that I am very much looking forward to," said Ryan, who has played a key role in the development of players such as Eoin Reddan, Johnny O'Connor, Gavin Duffy, Jerry Flannery, Damien Browne, John Muldoon, Mark McHugh, Bernard Jackman and Paul Warwick. Now he will be responsible for the future generations of Irish rugby players.

He has worked with several national sides, including the victorious Triple Crown winning students side of 2002, the Ireland A squad for the Six Nations and Churchill Cup, while he also involved with the Irish senior squad during warm weather training camps a few years ago.

Away from rugby, Ryan has also had some notable successes and served as the fitness advisor to the Roscommon footballers before joining Peter Ford's management team in Galway.

He was responsible for fitness when Roscommon won the Connacht title in 2001, a feat that was repeated with Galway three years ago when they also won the All-Ireland U-21 title.

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