RG Snyman delighted to have Munster team-mate with him in Springbok squad

Munster second-row RG Snyman is relishing his return to action at Test level after being recalled to the Springbok squad for their upcoming Rugby Championship campaign.

The 28-year-old last played for South Africa four years ago during their 32-12 victory over England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.

Jean Kleyn already with Springboks

It appears that fellow Munster lock Jean Kleyn has received clearance to join the Bok squad and Snyman is delighted to have his team-mate with him ahead of the upcoming Tests against Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.

Kleyn represented Ireland in five Tests in 2019, including the Rugby World Cup, after qualifying through residency.

But he is now with the Boks as their 41st player, although there’s uncertainty on whether permission was granted to include him after an application was filed by SA Rugby regarding the 29-year-old’s eligibility in terms of Regulation 8 and based on birth right.

“Having Jean Kleyn here is also special. He’s had a good season. I think he started every game for Munster,” said Snyman.

Since the 2019 World Cup, Snyman has had a torrid time with injuries after joining Munster in 2020. Snyman initially ruptured the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) within his knee seven minutes into his debut against arch rivals Leinster in August 2020.

He spent more than a year on the sidelines – after also suffering from burn wounds sustained during a fire-pit accident involving former Munster team-mates Damian de Allende and CJ Stander – before making a return to action off the replacements bench in the Irish province’s 2021/22 United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against the Stormers at Thomond Park at the start of October 2021.

However, things went pear-shaped the following week when Munster travelled to Llanelli to face the Scarlets as Snyman re-ruptured the same ligaments just nine minutes after coming on as a replacement.

He eventually returned to action in March this year and was part of the Munster squad who were crowned 2022/23 URC champions when they beat the Stormers in the final in Cape Town last month.

Delighted to be back with Boks

On Saturday, Snyman was named in Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber’s squad for the Rugby Championship and he couldn’t hide his delight about the prospect of returning to the Test arena.

“It’s special to be back in the squad and to train with the group again after my injuries,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity I won’t take for granted and it’s an honour to be here, and it’s nice knowing how the set-up works as I’ve been here before.”

READ MORE: South Africa look to snatch Jean Kleyn back as Rugby Championship training squad named