Munster boss comments on World Cup-winning Springbok’s future

Munster are hopeful that they can retain the services of Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks lock Jean Kleyn amid interest from France.

Kleyn has returned to Limerick following the Springboks’ trophy tour following their Rugby World Cup success.

The second-row qualified to represent Ireland through residency in 2019 and earned five Test caps but was not selected after the World Cup in Japan and became eligible for South Africa again following World Rugby’s change in their eligibility laws.

Munster keen to retain Jean Kleyn’s services

Earlier this year, Kleyn took up the opportunity to fulfil his boyhood dream of representing the Springboks, with his change of international allegiance making him an NIQ (non-Irish qualified) player for Munster.

With his contract expiring at the end of the current season, his being an NIQ player means that it will be difficult for Munster to retain his services, particularly with RG Snyman on their books in the same position.

Top 14 outfit Lyon are reportedly keen on signing Kleyn at the end of the season to replace outgoing lock Romain Taofifenua.

While it looks increasingly likely that the Springbok is on his way out of Irish rugby, Munster head coach Graham Rowntree has revealed the club has not given up hope of keeping him in Limerick.

“I’d say that last week in May after the final, or it may have been early June, that Jean Kleyn committed himself to South Africa, he became an NIQ, a non-Irish qualified player,” Rowntree said.

“He knew, we knew, all parties knew, that it was going to be challenging keeping hold on him but those contract negotiations are ongoing and I can’t really comment any more on them.

“Of course [we’d like to keep him], of course, he was so important for us last season, look at the minutes he played.

“We knew it was going to be a challenging situation, but hopefully, we will get a bit more clarity on that soon enough, but it would be wrong for me to comment any more on it.”

Kleyn’s new trim

While Snyman is set to be sidelined for some time, Rowntree confirmed that Kleyn is in contention to make his return for Munster this month.

The Munster boss also commented on the state of Kleyn’s recent haircut, courtesy of Snyman.

“Jean was sat in my office yesterday,” added Rowntree. “He’s back from South Africa. Back from his celebrations, crikey they did some celebrating.

“He has got a horrible haircut. RG went around skinning half the forwards by the look of it, haircut-wise. He will be back training with us on the 20th of November.”

READ MORE: State of the Nation: Springboks create a lasting legacy with back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles