SA Rugby confirm that Jean Kleyn has been cleared for Springbok selection
The South African Rugby Union have announced that Munster and former international lock Jean Kleyn has been cleared to play for the Springboks under the game’s new eligibility rules.
According to a SA Rugby press statement, World Rugby confirmed on Thursday that Kleyn fulfilled the necessary ‘birthright transfer’ requirements.
The regulation allows players to be selected for their country of birth (or of their parents’ or grandparents’ birth) after a period of at least 36 months has elapsed since they last played for an adopted country.
Johannesburg-born Kleyn represented the Stormers and Western Province before joining Munster in Ireland in 2016.
Represented Ireland at Test level in 2019
The 29-year-old represented Ireland in five Tests in 2019 including the Rugby World Cup after qualifying through residency.
However, he has not been selected for his adopted country subsequently.
In 2021, World Rugby approved a change in rugby’s eligibility laws that came into effect in January 2022. The change was voted for by World Rugby’s members, and upon approval, players can represent a second Test nation provided they have ‘a close and credible link to that union via birth-right’.
Kleyn has represented Munster on more than 130 occasions and was key member during their triumphant 2022/23 United Rugby Championship-winning campaign, in which they beat the Stormers in the final in Cape Town last month.
The behemoth second-row, who is 2,03 metres tall, has been in camp with the Springbok squad ahead of their Rugby Championship campaign and is now eligible for selection ahead of their tournament opener against Australia at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on July 8.
SA Rugby’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus revealed earlier this month that while South Africa voted against the change in the eligibility laws, they were willing to take advantage of it to strengthen their squad.
“Our selection committee has been monitoring players for a long time. When Regulation 8 was changed, we had a chance to give input, and we actually voted against that. And then World Rugby decided that you can change the national team that you play for,” Erasmus explained.
“So immediately, when we saw that, we put a guy like Jean Kleyn on our radar, and we started monitoring him as well. He was a player who was available.”
Springboks’ Rugby Championship training squad
Forwards: Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Stade Francais), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92), Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers), RG Snyman (Munster), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Ulster), Jasper Wiese (Leicester), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)
Backs: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks), Elton Jantjies (Agen), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls)
Springboks’ 2023 fixtures
Rugby Championship:
Saturday, 8 July – Springboks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 15 July – Springboks vs New Zealand (Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland)
Saturday, 29 July – Springboks vs Argentina (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Rugby World Cup warm-up fixtures:
Saturday, 5 August – Springboks v Argentina (Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires)
Saturday, 19 August – Springboks vs Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Friday, 25 August – Springboks vs New Zealand (Twickenham, London)
Rugby World Cup fixtures:
Sunday, 10 September – Springboks v Scotland (Stade Marseille, Marseille)
Sunday, 17 September – Springboks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Saturday, 23 September – Springboks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)
Sunday, 1 October – Springboks v Tonga (Stade Marseille, Marseille)
Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarter-finals
Weekend of 21/22 October – Semi-finals
Saturday, 28 October – Final
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