Ben Ryan (rugby union)

Ben Ryan, CF
Born (1971-09-11) 11 September 1971
Wimbledon, London
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Weight85 kg (187 lb)
OccupationPerformance Director
Rugby union career
Position Scrum-half
Coaching career
Years Team
2007–2013 England Sevens
2013–2016 Fiji Sevens

Ben Ryan CF (born 11 September 1971) is an English sports performance director and former rugby union coach, best known for leading Fiji sevens to the gold medal in rugby sevens at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the country’s first Olympic medal.[1]

He is currently Performance Director at Premier League football club Brentford.[2]

Ryan previously served as head coach of the England and Fiji national rugby sevens teams.[3][4]

Youth and education

[5] [6] [7]

Ryan was educated at Strand on the Green Junior School and Wimbledon College.[8] As a youth he was a member of Thames Valley Harriers, competing as a sprinter.[9]

He graduated from Loughborough University with a BSc in Sports Science[10] and later completed an MPhil in Education at the University of Cambridge, where he earned two Blues in rugby union as a scrum-half in the Varsity Matches of 1995 and 1996.[11]

During his time at Cambridge, he was part of sides that recorded notable victories over touring teams including Samoa and the Queensland Reds.[12]

Ryan later worked as a teacher at St Edward’s School, Oxford, where he was Head of Physical Education and established the school’s GCSE and A-Level Physical Education programmes.[13]

Playing career

Ryan played professional rugby union following the sport’s transition to professionalism in 1995.

He competed in the English First Division then the highest domestic league in England with West Hartlepool.[14]

He also played extensively for Nottingham, who had recently been relegated from the top tier and remained one of the leading clubs in the English game at the time.[9]During his playing career he featured in multiple positions, notably scrum-half, centre and full-back.. Injuries and teaching commitments later led him to transition into coaching.[2]

Coaching career

Ryan began coaching while working in education, initially progressing through representative and age-grade rugby. He coached at county level, South West England and Oxford University Under-21s before moving into the national pathway with England Under-18s.[15][3] He later served as Director of Rugby at Newbury RFC, where the club achieved promotion during the 2004–05 season and reached the highest league position in its history.[15] Alongside this, Ryan taught at St Edward’s School, Oxford, where during his tenure the school’s rugby programme achieved its strongest period of performance, with players progressing into England representative pathways across multiple age groups.[7]

England Sevens (2006–2013)

Ryan was appointed head coach of the England national rugby sevens team in 2006.[16][17]

He initially combined the role with his position as Director of Rugby at Newbury RFC before moving into a full-time position with the Rugby Football Union in 2007. During his first year in the role, he also continued to coach England Under-18s within the national pathway.[18][19][9]

During his tenure, Ryan played a key role in the professionalisation of the England Sevens programme, including the introduction of the first full-time player contracts awarded by the RFU. [20][21] [21]

Under his leadership, England won consecutive Dubai Sevens titles[22] and defeated New Zealand in New Zealand, going on to win the New Zealand leg of the World Series for the first time.[23]

Ryan-led England teams also achieved tournament victories against New Zealand in New Zealand, Australia in Australia and South Africa in South Africa.[24]

He also led England to victory at the Junior Commonwealth Games the first and, to date, only time a British or European team has won the competition.[25]

Over six seasons in charge, Ryan led England in 56 World Series tournaments[26] and to the final of the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens , England’s first appearance in the final of that competition in 20 years.[27]

He stepped down from the role in August 2013.[28]

Fiji Sevens (2013–2016)

Ryan was appointed head coach of the Fiji national sevens team in September 2013.[29] Under his leadership, Fiji won the 2014–15 World Rugby Sevens Series and nine World Series tournaments across his tenure.[30]

At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Fiji won the inaugural men’s rugby sevens gold medal , the country’s first Olympic medal.[31]

Following the Games, the team was recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the Best Male Team Performance of the Rio Olympic Games.[12] Ryan stepped down following the Olympics.[32]

In recognition of his contribution to Fijian sport and society, he was awarded the Companion of the Order of Fiji.[33] He was also installed within the chiefly system of Serua Province and given the chiefly name Ratu Peni Rayani Latianara, along with land in Serua.[31] Ryan has been depicted on Fijian legal tender issued following the Olympic victory, including a circulating 50-cent coin and a commemorative $7 banknote, both of which are legal tender.[34]

In 2016, he was also named Pacific Person of the Year.[3]

Post-Olympic work

Following the 2016 Olympics, Ryan undertook advisory and high-performance consultancy roles in elite sport.[14]

He worked with the French Rugby Federation (FFR), supporting high-performance development across the national programme, including the men’s and women’s sevens teams.[35][36]

Ryan worked with the programme during Olympic cycles that later culminated in France winning the men’s rugby sevens gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. He left his involvement with the French programme in 2022 upon joining Brentford.[37]

He has also worked as a consultant for UK Sport and Nike.[11] Ryan has served as an ambassador for HSBC and Fiji Airways and has been a member of the performance advisory group for the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).[38][39][40][41]

Brentford FC

In June 2022, Ryan moved into association football when he was appointed to the newly created role of Performance Director at Premier League club Brentford.[5]

In this role, he has overall responsibility for a broad range of performance-related departments across the club, including medical, sports science, research and development, data and technology, player care, team operations, catering and training-ground performance services.[2]

Ryan is part of the club’s senior football leadership group, working alongside Technical Director Lee Dykes and Head Coach Keith Andrews under Director of Football Phil Giles.[42]

Publications and media

Ryan is the author of Seven’s Heaven: The Beautiful Chaos of Fiji’s Olympic Dream, published in 2018.[43]

The book was shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award in 2018[44] and won The Telegraph Sports Book of the Year Award in 2019.[45]

Ryan also hosted the High Performance with Ben Ryan podcast, in which he interviewed leaders from sport and performance environments. The podcast ran until his appointment at Brentford in 2022.[46]

Honours and awards

Companion of the Order of Fiji (CF) [33] 22 August 2016

After winning gold and returning to Fiji, Ryan was accorded the highest order when he was awarded the Companion of the Order of Fiji.[33] He is depicted on the reverse of a circulating 50 cent coin, and on the front of a circulating commemorative $7 banknote.[47]

Personal life

Ryan married Natalie Peck on 4 July 2009. They separated in September 2016 and were officially divorced on 2 August 2017. They had no children. In April 2022, he got engaged to TV presenter Michelle Ackerley.[48] They married in May 2024. Their daughter Naia was born in October 2025. They current reside in SW London. Ryan is a Brentford supporter and was a season ticket holder at the club.[5][49]

References

  1. ^ "Coaching Fiji A Life Changer: Ben Ryan". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b c Team, The Rugby Paper (19 August 2025). "Ben Ryan on Peak Performance: What Sport Can Teach Us About Leadership and Success". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  3. ^ a b c Marshall, Sam (7 May 2024). "Ben Ryan: The Olympic Gold Medalist Helping Brentford Reach Peak Performance". Brentford FC.
  4. ^ "Ben Ryan". Brentford FC.
  5. ^ a b c "Brentford FC appoint Ben Ryan as Performance Director". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Ryan named England Sevens boss". ESPN.com. 13 December 2006. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Rugby Union: Gibson gets England chance". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Rugby at the College". Wimbledon College.
  9. ^ a b c Harris, Jay (12 September 2022). "Ben Ryan: Brentford's director of elite performance who was forged in Fiji". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  10. ^ "Alumni spotlight: Coaching to gold – Ben Ryan". Loughborough University. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  11. ^ a b "Ben Ryan: The Olympic gold medalist helping Brentford reach peak performance". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  12. ^ a b Ingle, Sean (14 May 2018). "Ben Ryan: 'I felt no joy in my last final with England … I was completely flat'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  13. ^ Kitson, Robert (3 December 2005). "New Woodward banging on the door". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  14. ^ a b "Alumni spotlight: Coaching to gold – Ben Ryan". Loughborough University. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  15. ^ a b Kitson, Robert (3 December 2005). "New Woodward banging on the door". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  16. ^ "Ben Ryan steps down as England Sevens coach". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  17. ^ Radley, Paul. "The dark days are over for Ryan's sevens side". The National. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  18. ^ Hamilton, Tom. "Amor looks to evolution rather than revolution". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  19. ^ "England youngsters claim Commonwealth gold". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  20. ^ "New Zealand win RWC Sevens title in Moscow – HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  21. ^ a b "Ben Ryan to leave England Sevens". Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  22. ^ Radley, Paul. "England still lucky in orange as they win Dubai Sevens". The National. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  23. ^ Kitson, Robert (4 October 2016). "Ben Ryan on life after Rio: 'Base Fiji team in Cornwall – they would love it there'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  24. ^ Staff, ESPN (8 December 2012). "England crash out of South Africa 7s". ESPN.com. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  25. ^ worldrugby.org. "England claim Commonwealth Youth Sevens gold | World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  26. ^ "Inside England's Sevens World Series campaign with Ben Ryan". Rugby World. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  27. ^ Blaber, Junoir. "Super 15 Final, Womens NC, Ben Ryan, JP Morgan 7s, & Pam Kosanke". Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  28. ^ "England Sevens will seek new head coach, aided by outgoing Ben Ryan". Rugby World. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  29. ^ "Ben Ryan is new 7s head coach". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  30. ^ "Ben Ryan: The best is yet to come". Fiji Rugby Union.
  31. ^ a b "Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan gifted land and chief's name after Rio Olympics gold". BBC Sport. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  32. ^ Ramsay, George (26 April 2017). "Former Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan on the money". CNN. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  33. ^ a b c "Ben Ryan awarded Companion of the Order of Fiji". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  34. ^ "Ben Ryan pictured on Fijian 50 cent coin to honour Olympic sevens gold". BBC Sport. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  35. ^ "Ryan joins France Sevens as consultant". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  36. ^ "consultancy". Ben Ryan. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  37. ^ "Taking Fiji Rugby to Greater Heights: Q&A With Fiji Rugby Union Chairman And CEO". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  38. ^ "Exclusive: How Olympic gold-winning coach Ben Ryan hopes to revolutionise rugby". Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  39. ^ "Ben Ryan". Play-Ex Sports. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  40. ^ "We'll be asking our rugby ambassadors, Ben Ryan & Brian O'Driscoll, questions live from the #HSBC7s Premier Suite this Friday at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM and on Saturday also at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Stay tuned to our page, join the sessions live and send in your questions. Feel the #HSBC7s". Facebook. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  41. ^ "Fiji Airways welcomes Ben Ryan aboard as its newest ambassador". TAL Aviation. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  42. ^ "Brentford news: Claus Norgaard leaves Bees". BBC Sport. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  43. ^ Goodeve, Adelaide (22 June 2018). "Book Review: Seven Heavens by Ben Ryan". Adelaide Goodeve. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  44. ^ Ingle, Sean (27 November 2018). "William Hill Sports Book of the Year prize shared for first time in 30 years". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  45. ^ "Ben Ryan wins double honour at The Telegraph Sports Book Awards 2019". The Daily Telegraph.
  46. ^ "The Ben Ryan Podcast". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  47. ^ "$7 Banknotes And 50 Cents Coins Officially Unveiled By Hon. Prime Minister And Minister For I-taukei Affairs, Sugar Industry And Foreign Affairs, Rear Admiral (Retired) Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama To Commemorate Fiji Rugby 7s Gold Medal Win At The Rio 2016 Olympics" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  48. ^ Bashforth, Emily (6 April 2022). "Michelle Ackerley engaged to boyfriend: 'I was nipping out for a morning stroll' They got married in St Margaret's, London in May 2024". Metro. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  49. ^ "Brentford's bold Ben Ryan move a rare football push to learn from rugby". the Guardian. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.