Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks lock on the radar for multiple South African clubs
Double Rugby World Cup-winning lock RG Snyman is in line for a possible return to South Africa with his Munster contract up at the end of the season.
Snyman arrived to Munster in the summer of 2020, although he has suffered from injuries during his time there. since a result, he is expected to leave the team after the conclusion of the 2023–2024 season, since his contract is up.
His injury problems haven’t stopped either; after the World Cup final triumph against New Zealand, he suffered a pectoral muscle injury that would require four to six months of recovery.
Clubs line up to sign RG Snyman
Despite his recent history of injuries, a number of teams will be keen to sign Syman when he is expected to leave Munster.
Many South African United Rugby Championship sides have reportedly entered the competition to recruit the enormous lock, according to an article published in the Afrikaans publication Rapport.
The article just stated that the teams are “scrambling with overseas teams to sign the 28-year-old,” without naming which teams were interested.
Even though they currently have a ton of Springboks on their roster, the Sharks—who are supported by US investors—would probably be one of those teams.
The Bulls would probably be happy to have the lock back as well. The lock attended Pretoria schools and played for the team at both the junior and senior levels.
Administratively, SA Rugby still controls the Stormers and Western Province, but with to private equity from The Red Disa consortium, they could afford to recruit Snyman—especially when lock Marvin Orie left for Perpignan following the World Cup.
The South African teams will have to fend off interest from Japanese and European teams, though. In addition to many French Top 14 teams being interested, Snyman has spent time in Japan with Honda Heat on multiple occasions and may go back there.
Jean Kleyn and Snyman to depart Munster
As for Munster, they look set to lose both Snyman and Jean Kleyn at the end of the season.
Kleyn was no longer eligible for Ireland after making his Springbok debut earlier this year, and it was always going to be extremely improbable that the team would keep both World Cup champions past the next season.
Although Kleyn is attracting interest from Top 14 team Lyon, Munster head coach Graham Rowntree said that they are in negotiations with him about extending his contract. However, he acknowledged that it will be difficult to hold him.
“We all knew, including him, that it would be difficult to hold onto him, but those contract negotiations are still in progress, so I can’t really comment on them at this time,” Rowntree stated.