UP
Bruce Ryan , Australian Rugby League Wingman and Dance Band Singer
HULL FC EXPECT that their new Australian wing - three - quarter, Bruce Ryan, will be in this city during the, summer, in any event in good time for the 1947-48 Rugby League campaign.
A 40 yards dash for a try by Newton League winger Bruce Ryan, in which he beat four rivals, featured the first half of the match with North Sydney. This is a comment of the Sydney Sunday Sun about Hull FC acquisition.
Bruce and Bill Ryan are football brothers, and Bruce, of the Newtown Club, NSW is also a very fine runner. It was in 1939, at the GPS athletic meeting at Newtown, that Bruce Ryan was the shining light.
An Australian press report says that he equalled Jimmy Charlton famous 100 metre record. The newspaper also says that Ryan made even time In the 220 yards, and ended in a great sprint in the relay race to win for his college, then turned round and stripped for the 440 yards, which he won, sounds good stamina and endurance.
In 1941 at the age of 18 Ryan joined the army and served in Papua New Guinea. Whilst on leave from the army he continued to play for his Newtown club. When he returned to his unit in Papua he was a malaria victim and his illness robbed him of a place in the Australian Test team against Rismans Tourists.
THEN ON TO FOOTBALL
Again this Australian review says, After leaving college the Ryan brothers played League with Newtown, and created a sensation in their remarkable dashes for the line.
Their pace and play caught the eye of the selectors and they were chosen for New South Wales. The brothers were eventually in the Newtown team which won the state championship.
ILLNESS KEPT Ryan out of Test Matches although he was in line for first selection. He is an extremely strong player and a commentary on his play by the Sydney Daily Telegraph says Tackling Ryan is like trying to stop a tank.
Bruce Ryan has only to be fit and well to walk into any side. For those who keep records here are brief figures of Ryans physique, born 1923 now 24 years, height 5 foot 11 inches weight l3st. 5 lbs.
The Newtown wing three quarter Bruce Ryan has signed for Hull FC for a fee of four figures. Ryan arrived at Paragon Station with fellow Australian Duncan Jackson. They were met by Hull FC official, players and massive amount of supporters welcoming wishing them well.
Ryan quickly settled into the team and was a great success playing on the wing his playing record for Hull was 84 matches and scored 59 tries in the 3 seasons he played for Hull. At Ryans own request he was put on the transfer list for the 1950-51 season, Leeds signed this speedy winger.
About to tackle the Belle Vue Rangers wingman
Bruce Ryan found it difficult to secure a regular place in Leeds team and Leeds sought to exchange him for Kerwick of Leigh. In addition to rugby Bruce was a great singer and Bruce Ryan said he preferred to stay in Yorkshire as he had built up a reputation of being a singer with a dance group.
It was a shock to Leeds when they discovered that Bruce Ryan was on a ship together with his wife and children to go back to Australia.
