Springboks lock suffers recovery setback as knee surgery rules him out for season

Adam Kyriacou
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Munster second-row Jean Kleyn against Leinster.

Munster second-row Jean Kleyn against Leinster.

Springboks lock Jean Kleyn won’t play again this season after Munster confirmed he will undergo surgery on a knee injury due to his eye issue being “slow to recover”.

The World Cup winner has been sidelined since November 25 last year after sustaining an eye injury while playing against Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

It’s a cruel blow for both Kleyn and Munster, who are in the midst of an injury crisis that has seen several of their first-team regulars ruled out for significant periods of time.

Medical update

Both Kleyn and his towering Springboks second-row partner RG Snyman are currently out of action, with the latter expected to return from a chest/shoulder injury in March.

Monday’s news from Munster will no doubt concern South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus.

News of Kleyn’s latest setback came via Munster’s weekly medical update and while his surgery is a blow there was at least some light at the end of the tunnel for other players.

Alex Nankivell (ankle), Niall Scannell (groin), Joey Carbery (wrist) and Patrick Campbell (shoulder) will all return to training this week, as the team prepares to take on Toulon.

The availability of that quartet and also Oli Jager, Fineen Wycherley and Peter O’Mahony will be determined later in the week, with Jager continuing the return to play protocols while Wycherley and O’Mahony (both shoulder) are increasing their training exposure.

Munster also had a positive update on recent signing Eoghan Clarke as he’s completed the return to play protocols and is available for the weekend’s Champions Cup clash.

Elsewhere, there was good news for Mike Haley (hip) and Cian Hurley (ankle/Achilles) as they will return to training in the coming weeks in a boost to boss Graham Rowntree.

Nervous wait

However, the wait continues on whether Jack O’Donoghue will require surgery on a knee injury, with that set to be determined following a surgical consultation this week.

Outside of those players mentioned above, Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Edwin Edogbo (Achilles), Jack Daly (ankle), Liam Coombes (shoulder) and Roman Salanoa (knee) are continuing to rehab at URC champions’ training base.

Munster currently sit in 10th spot in the standings after a tough start to the campaign.

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Internationals Jean Kleyn