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Bok lock Jean Kleyn set to exit Munster - reports
By Ian Cameron
Springboks second row Jean Kleyn is reportedly likely to leave Munster - according to French media outlet Midi Olympique.
Lyon are looking for a replacement for French international Romain Taofifenua, who is leaving for Racing 92 next season, and Kleyn is top of their shopping list.
The former DHL Stormers and Western Province lock moved to Ireland in 2016 and qualified for selection by residency in 2019. He was picked for his adopted country’s Rugby World Cup squad that year and made five appearances but was not been selected subsequently under Ireland head coach Andy Farrell.
Having been repeatedly overlooked by Farrell, the 30-year-old was in June cleared by World Rugby to switch allegiance back to the Springboks before being included in Jacques Nienaber’s squad for France and featured off the bench in the Rugby World Cup final.
The regulation – which came into force at the start of 2022 – allows for players to be selected for their country of birth (or of their parents’ or grandparents’ birth) once a period of at least 36 months has elapsed since last selection for an adopted country.
With Kleyn changing his Test allegiances, the IRFU and Munster will be significantly less keen to fight to keep him.
Kleyn feared his switch back to South Africa may be met with a backlash, but the response in his adopted nation has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I’ve been absolutely inundated with messages from Munster supporters – obviously only after Ireland fell out,” said Kleyn. “Then they really came after us and said, ‘listen, you’re our second team now, guys’.
“The support was really heartfelt from a lot of Munster fans and it made it a lot easier for me because I thought it would be quite a negative reaction when I declared for the Springboks.
“From my history with Irish media, I figured there would be a few negative articles but it was resoundingly positive, so I was really happy about that.”
The 2.03m second rower has made more than 130 appearances for Munster and was a part of their Vodacom United Rugby Championship-winning team in Cape Town last month.
additional reporting PA
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Latest Comments
Put the fear back into the black jersey … by coming fifth? These players are just confirming the suspicion that they think the job’s done just by getting the jersey.
Go to commentsSiya Kolisi is the Bok captain so that’s 4. Hendrichse has had Bok sysrts recently.
Leinster is not Ireland: full team lost to Bulls in 2024 a couple of months before Ireland beat ‘most experienced Springbok ever’ in Durban.
The other three provinces look like they will step up in URC next year.
There are three in top 8 now. Remember this year they are all losing twice to Leinster whereas everyone else (besides Bulls) are losing only one to them.
The Leinster situation is forcing them to innovate.
One can at least see that the (hopeful for some) talk of Ireland returning to the bad old days are for the birds. All our URC teams are strong. Leinster B would be a top 3 URC team.
Whatever is going on with Sharks they should still be able to manufacture a win there. Looked to be low on the required levels of confidence and belief.
You can be sure that RJ, Barrett and Slimani were shouting Leinster on as if they were at the match. That spirit is something else that Leinster club has.
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