Munster's World Cup heroes have arrived back in Ireland after what appears to have been the mother and father of all parties in South Africa. RG Snyman, in particular, was at the centre of some ridiculous haircuts that the players sported during their trophy tour. Graham Rowntree passed comment on this today, saying, "Jean was sat in my office yesterday. He's back from South Africa, back from his celebrations, crikey they did some celebrating."
🇿🇦😂 Eben Etzebeth to RG Snyman: “If we win the World Cup, I’ll cut my hair like yours.” pic.twitter.com/2GtmWI0wi6
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) October 31, 2023
Now, for Munster, attention has turned back to when the World Cup winning duo will be available for the province again. Snyman picked up a shoulder injury in the final and was originally thought to be something he could recover from quite quickly with a minor surgery. Rowntree revealed today, that would not be the case for the 28 year old:
"Ultimately we'll have to see what the surgeon finds when he goes in there. That'll give us an exact timeline but it's going to be months, not weeks. Devastated for him. He can't get a break.
He came in late [last season], had a late run, himself and Tadhg Beirne to the season last year. The way he's played for South Africa in the World Cup, he's been a real force. I'm gutted for him, gutted for him."
The Munster head coach did also confirm that Jean Kleyn was to rejoin the Munster squad in full training on the 20th November. All those involved with Munster will be on tenterhooks awaiting news of whether Kleyn's new status as a NIQ (Non-Irish Qualified) player means for his contract, which is up at the end of this season. Rowntree said:
"He knew, we knew, all parties knew, that it was going to be challenging keeping hold on him but those contract negotiations are ongoing and I can’t really comment any more on them.
Of course [we'd like to keep him], of course, he was so important for us last season, look at the minutes he played.
We knew it was going to be a challenging situation but hopefully we will get a bit more clarity on that soon enough, but it would be wrong for me to comment any more on it."
Snyman or Kleyn?
Provincial sides are only allowed 3 NIQ players on contract with certain short term deals occasionally allowing more but only if permitted by the IRFU.
Interestingly both Kleyn and Snyman are in the last year of their contracts with Munster. Already on social media, there is debate on which World Cup winner the province should keep on. Snyman is two years younger, but his Munster run has been ruined by injury. Kleyn has been a rock for Munster.
But not surprisingly, there's a lots of interest in Kleyn outside of Ireland, with reports that Top 14 side Lyon are in the market for Kleyn..
Second row is also a position where they have a lot of depth with Tadhg Beirne as well as young talents Thomas Ahern and Edwin Edogbo, who have been mighty impressive to start the season. Kleyn has given so much to Munster over recent times and even married a Munster native, Aisling Kleyn, with whom he has a young child.
Congratulations to these two world champions 🏆
Fantastic to see Jean Kleyn & RG Snyman win the World Cup with the @Springboks 🥳#SUAF 🔴 pic.twitter.com/j0KTn3kO3I— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) October 28, 2023
All things considered it is to be an interesting time at Thomond Park over the next 12 months. If it is to be the last year that both Kleyn and Snyman are at Munster together, Graham Rowntree will be looking to make the most of it.
