Dean Ryan believes his decision to move back into club rugby with Worcester Warriors has already been vindicated – and revealed he simply can’t wait to battle against the odds in the Aviva Premiership.
Ryan made his return to the English top-flight this summer when he was installed as the new Director of Rugby at Sixways.
The former Gloucester boss has watched his new-look squad defeat Rotherham Titans 29-18 before narrowly losing out 21-17 against Cardiff Blues in pre-season.
And afterwards he insisted his passion for the game was as strong as ever as the countdown continues to the new league season that kicks-off against champions Leicester Tigers on Sunday, September 8.
“It was a big decision for me to come back; the more I am here just confirms I made the right decision,” he said.
“I love competing. I am not particularly bothered about the odds, sometimes the greater they are the more fun I have.
“If I can get a group that share that desire to improve then it makes it good fun. Everything has been right for me in terms of working with this group over the last 10 or 12 weeks.
“I am not looking at anything other than making us competitive – it’s as simple as that,” he added.
“The media like to chase where you are going to come, but we will just be competitive as a group.
“We have a lot of work to do – we are not hiding from that. We are not the strongest squad in the league – anyone can go through the squad lists. But that doesn’t mean we can’t compete.
“If we understand that and are prepared to work hard then we will get a lot of fun from turning over the odds.”
Ryan is also under no illusions as to the task facing his Warriors in a league that only becomes more competitive with each passing season.
“This Aviva Premiership season is going to be tough,” he said. “But as a group I have been pleased with how we have adapted and worked. It is going to take a lot of hard work and I’m delighted that this group are up for it.
“We are not always going to get everything we want, we are not always going to get everything we want result wise.
“But what we are going to get is certain behaviours right and they are fundamental to us being competitive going forward. As a group I have been delighted to how they have adapted to that.”