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US Eagles prop Paddy Ryan has joined up with Bath on trial as he looks to secure a new Aviva Premiership contract following his departure from Newcastle Falcons at the end of last season. Ryan was a second half replacement in the Aviva ‘A’ league match against Gloucester United on Sunday.
Bath have seen injuries decimate their stocks at the crucial tighthead position. Henry Thomas and Max Lahiff are yet to make an appearance this season and Kane Palma-Newport is set for a long spell on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles tendon against Leicester in Round 1. Welsh international Craig Mitchell badly damaged a shoulder while on trial with the club in pre-season and with newly-returned Manu Samoa veteran Anthony Perenise now the only senior tighthead left available Scott Andrews, another Wales cap, has been brought in for a month on loan from Cardiff Blues.
The 26-year-old Ryan, Irish-raised but born in Chicago, made his international debut for the Eagles against Ireland on June 10. He won his first test start against Canada in the first World Cup Qualifier match at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton two weeks later.
Should Ryan earn a contract he would join fellow Eagles front rowers Titi Lamositele (Saracens), Joe Taufete’e (Worcester Warriors), and Chris Baumann (Leicester Tigers) in the Premiership. Other USA internationals in the competition include former captain Chris Wyles (Saracens), flyhalf AJ MacGinty (Sale Sharks), and second row Nick Civetta (Newcastle Falcons).
