RG Snyman’s move to Leinster was a ‘huge surprise’ for Munster boss

Munster boss Graham Rowntree admits that he was shocked when hearing the news that RG Snyman would be joining Leinster next season.

Rowntree adds that it is the nature of professional rugby as Munster was unable to offer him a contract extension, and Leinster swooped to snap up his services.

“It was a huge surprise, I’m not going to lie,” Rowntree told reporters ahead of the Irish derby on Boxing Day.

“I wasn’t fully aware of where he was going, and there was chat of him going to Bath to see my old mate and his former coach Johann van Graan.

“There was chat about him going back to South Africa. Yeah, I was surprised. This is a business, isn’t it?”

No doubting his commitment

The Munster coach explained that the Province was unable to offer Snyman a new deal at the Province and added that he has no doubts about his commitment for the rest of the season.

“I sat down with him the first week in November and said there wasn’t a contract for him, unfortunately. Within a couple of weeks, this news is upon us; he’s going to Leinster,” he said.

“There we go, we deal with it, we row on. I have no doubt about his commitment to us to the end of the season. We have seen it in the last couple of days, in particular, but it is what it is.

“We can’t determine where he goes, I’m the bloke sitting in front of him saying we haven’t anything for him. As I say, we can’t determine where he goes.

“It’s not like we have been outbid by Leinster. We had nothing for him. That’s business. I am quite able to move on. I have more things to consider on my mind at the moment than this.”

The defending URC champions will host Leinster on December 26. The visitors currently sit on top of the standings, having lost just one of their seven games to start the season, while Munster have won four from seven.

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