Chicago born Irish prop Patrick ‘Paddy’ Ryan played in Major League Rugby between 2018-2024. He represented the Austin Gilgronis (2018, 2021), Rugby New York Ironworkers (2019-2020), the San Diego Legion (2022), and the Chicago Hounds (2023-2024).

Ryan has played professionally in the English Premiership for Newcastle, and in the Championship for London Welsh, in France for UA Libourne in Federale 1, and in Italy with Rugby Viadana. Eligible for the USA through his birth in Chicago, Ryan debuted for the Eagles against Ireland in 2017, and earned 7 caps through to his more recent cap against Fiji in 2019.

Ryan has taken part in the inaugural seasons of 3 different MLR sides: the Austin Gilgronis (2018, League’s inaugural season), Rugby United New York (2019), and the Chicago Hounds (2023). A talented and effective prop, through his first 6 seasons in MLR Ryan earned 56 caps (42 starts) across 4 sides, scoring 7 tries in total including a high of 3 for Rugby New York in 2019. He earned his first MLR Team of the Week selection for the Chicago Hounds in Round 18 of the 2023 season.

On 20th November 2023, the Chicago Hounds announced the return of Paddy Ryan for the 2024 MLR season where he scored his 8th MLR try and earned 15 further appearances for the Hounds (11 starts) as Chicago qualified for the post-season for the first time in team history. Ryan started the Hounds’ first ever MLR playoff game, the Eastern Conference Semifinal match against the NOLA Gold which they won 21-45 to advance to the Eastern Conference Final, falling 23-17 to the eventual Champions, the New England Free Jacks in a game that Paddy Ryan also started.

Achievements:

• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 13
• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 18