The 25-year-old Grand National hero of last year made the shock announcement last week to hang up his whip.

After a few days of reflection he admits he’ll miss racing but is desperate to take up another competitive sport.

Ryan told the Border Telegraph: “At this moment I feel I’ve made the right decision - it is something I have thought very hard about - but I know there will be a point in the future when I will miss going to the races.

“I have loved riding horses since I was a young boy and I also loved playing rugby.

“I had to give up rugby when I became a jockey but would relish the chance to play again.

“One of my goals was always to play rugby for Gala.” Mania played at inside centre during his school days at Galashiels Academy.

He made a brief return to the game during time out of the saddle a few years later to play at scrum half for Gala YM.

But for most of the past seven years his only brush with rugby was from the stands or being carried shoulder-high around the Netherdale ground after landing the Grand National on Auroras Encore.

Ryan added: “When I started as a jockey I always had it my head that I’d do the best I could until I was about 25 and then look for something else - it was my plan.

“I struggle with reaching the racing weight and you never know when you’re next bad fall will come.

“I look around the weighing room and see jockeys who have broken almost every bone - they are not going to have a good quality of life in later years.

“I am keeping my options open - I’d like to do a bit more television and media - but I do know I’ll need to start playing a sport or I’m just going to get fat.” It was just the day after his Grand National success in 2013 that he suffered his worst fall, aboard Stagecoach at Hexham He was airlifted to hospital and was found to have a small fracture to his vertebra as well as soft tissue and ligament damage.

He has continued to impress this season and was last seen in the saddle a fortnight ago at Haydock. His most recent winner was at Newcastle on November 14 aboard the Sandy Thompson-trained Seldom Inn.

The Border Telegraph asked Gala RFC about Ryan’s prospects in a maroon shirt.

Vice-President Graham Low told us: “We would be delighted to have him come along to training and fight for a place in one of our teams. He’s just given up on being a professional sportsman in racing, so he will be fit, strong and have that professional attitude to anything he does.”