Ryan Tamarua Nicholas (born 23 May 1979 in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian-born Japanese rugby union player who plays for Suntory Sungoliath of the Top League in Japan.
Born in Australia, Nicholas moved to New Zealand in his youth and attended Tauranga Boys' College.
He would go on to have an outstanding debut season, starting all 12 contests and leading the side with 7 tries (one more than All Black great Jeff Wilson).
While his goal-kicking opportunities were limited in New Zealand, as he was behind All Blacks Nick Evans and Tony Brown in the pecking order for Otago and the Highlanders, he was given an opportunity in Japan to become his team's main kicking option, and by the 2006-07 season was the top points scorer in the Top League.
Nicholas has developed into a key player and one of the regular goal kickers (along with former Otago and Highlander teammate James Arlidge) for the Japanese squad, and earned his 25th cap against the United Arab Emirates on 13 May 2011.