| Name: | Ryan Nelsen |
| Nationality: | New Zealander |
| Date of Birth: | 18/10/1977 |
| Height: | 6' 0" (183cm) |
| Weight: | 14st 2lbs (90.0kg) |
| Position: | Defender |
Biography:
A talented sporting all-rounder, Ryan turned his back on a promising cricket career to take up a university place in North Carolina, transferring to a football scholarship at California's Stanford University at the age of 21.
He stayed in America until January 2005 when he signed an initial 18-month deal with Rovers after a short trial. He was twice nominated in the MSL All-star side for his performances with DC United and has made a huge impact at Ewood Park at the heart of defence since his arrival.
However the 2006/07 season was blighted by injury, a major hamstring operation in August meant that he missed the first six months of the season, only returning to action in January 2007.
Penned a new five year deal in July 2007 that sees him contracted with the club until the summer of 2012. But his hamstring injury continued to trouble him throughout the 2007/08 campaign, but after a period of rest 'Nelly' returned to captain the squad for the last few games of the season.
Season 2007 - 08
| Competition | Apps (as sub) |
Goals | Yellow Cards |
Red Cards |
| League | 22 (0) | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| FA Cup | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| League Cup | 2 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Euro Cups | 5 (0) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
