Ronan heading down under

Former Meath minor footballer Niall Ronan received some welcome if unexpected news on Sunday evening when he was told that he would be included on the senior Irish rugby squad for the forthcoming tour to New Zealand and Australia. Ronan, who is from the Laytown/Bettystown area, had trained with the Irish squad at Carton House last week. He was one of the players on the stand-by list and when Leinster's Kevin McLaughlin picked up an injury the Meathman was called into the squad by Irish manager Declan Kidney. "I didn't know I would be going on the tour until Sunday evening. We play the Barbarians on Friday night at Thomond Park, which is good and then we are flying out early on Saturday morning," he told the Meath Chronicle on Monday evening. "You're playing against the best players in the world in New Zealand and Australia. I don't know if I'll be involved, if I am it will be a massive chance, hopefully I can enjoy it and hopefully I can take the opportunity if I can get it." Ronan first came to prominence as a Gaelic footballer with St Colmcille's and he also played for Meath minors against Dublin in a Leinster MFC clash at Croke Park. He later turned his attention to rugby and played for Leinster before he was signed by Munster in 2007. He went on to represent his country at u-19 and u-21 levels. His latest call up to the international rugby scene is a measure of a high level of consistency he has achieved as one of Munster's backrow players. He played in 15 Magners League games this season for the province. While Ronan has had an opportunity to taste life as a professional rugby player he still intends to return to his roots sometime in the future. "This time about 10 years ago I was playing for St Colmcille's in somewhere like Ballinabrackey. I miss the Gaelic football to be honest and I definitely will go back if I'm able to run when my rugby days are over. I still keep in touch with the lads, all my mates still play with St Colmcille's. They drew with Nobber at the weekend didn't they?" Last summer the 27-year-old won his first senior international cap when he played for Ireland in a 25-6 win over Canada and he also made an appearance against the US Eagles on the same tour. He was later involved in the Ireland A team's successful attempt to win the Churchill Cup last summer with the boys in green defeating England Saxons (49-22) in the final in Denver, Colorado. Ronan has been a regular member of the Munster set-up this year and was on the team defeated by Leinster in the Magners League cup semi-final. This is his third year with Munster and he recently signed a new contract. "I love it down here and I would hope to finish out my career with Munster," he added on Monday. Also included in the Irish squad going to New Zealand and Australia is fellow Meathman Shane Horgan. Other big names involved are Brian O'Driscoll, Robert Kearney, John Hayes and Keith Earls. Ireland face New Zealand in the Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth on Saturday, 12th June, 8.35 Irish time; the New Zealand Maori side at Rotorua on Friday, 18th June, 8.35am and finish off their tour against Australia on Saturday, 26th June at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 11.00am.