Munster provide worrying injury update on Springboks lock RG Snyman
RG Snyman in action for the Springboks during the Rugby World Cup.
Lock RG Snyman looks set to miss the majority of Munster’s season after undergoing surgery on an injury following South Africa’s Rugby World Cup triumph.
The second-row played a key role in the Springboks lifting the Webb Ellis Cup for a fourth time when they beat the All Blacks 12-11 in the final.
However, Snyman sustained a shoulder/chest injury in that contest which needed to be corrected via surgery.
Out for months
That means his absence will be months rather than weeks, although he is likely to return for their end-of-season run-in.
“I’m being told March at this point. It’s not a small operation he has had and he’s not a small human,” Munster head coach Graham Rowntree said.
“We’ll see how he progresses. The next month, month-and-a-half will tell us a lot. But I’m preparing myself for the worst-case scenario.”
It is a big blow for Snyman and Munster, with the province doing an outstanding job in supporting the lock through a couple of serious injuries.
He has ruptured his ACL on two occasions and only played four times in just under three years before he returned to action in March 2023.
Snyman recovered for last season’s run-in and played a key role in the Irish side’s United Rugby Championship title triumph before he tasted success with the Springboks at the World Cup.
Other injury worries
The South African is not the only Munster player to be on the sidelines with Ireland star Peter O’Mahony also nursing a shoulder injury.
Jack O’Donoghue is another that is currently out of action, but the prognosis on that back-row duo is much more positive according to Rowntree.
“Yeah, it’s going to be weeks but not months. I’m hoping to get them involved in European competition this side of Christmas. Pete has had another expert look at it [Monday] night, another scan on it, and we’re just awaiting a report on that,” he said.
“Jack got away with it. It’s a horrible clearout [in the Stormers game]. You see the view from behind and how his knee has survived. He’s ended up with his ankle taking the brunt of it but it’s not that bad. He’s got away with it.”
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