A tough as nails competitor, DONNACHA RYAN has played in the second row and back row for Munster showing the kind of versatility which has marked him out as a potential Test player.

Equally effective in the lineout and the loose, he started his rugby career with Nenagh Ormond and came up through the national Youths system to earn a spot in the Munster Academy.

The Tipperary man, a Heineken Cup winner and a member of the IRFU High Performance Select Group, won his first Ireland cap as a replacement against Argentina last November.

Capped initially at Youth and Under-21 levels, he made his Ireland 'A' bow last season, played at the 2008 Churchill Cup and donned the number 6 jersey for February's win over Scotland 'A' at the RDS.