Jean Kleyn's Return: A Much-Needed Boost for Munster and the Springboks
Munster Rugby, a team that has consistently been a force in the United Rugby Championship (URC), has been dealt a massive boost ahead of the new season with the return of their star Springbok lock, Jean Kleyn. This return comes after a long period of rehabilitation for the 31-year-old, who was a crucial cog in the team's URC title win in the 2022/23 season.
Kleyn has played just once for Munster since the Rugby World Cup final, where he came off the bench for South Africa in their hard-fought victory over the All Blacks. Unfortunately, his return to the Irish province was short-lived, as he suffered an eye injury in his first game back. This unfortunate event resulted in him missing all of the Springboks' matches throughout 2024, including two tests against Ireland.
Kleyn's Impact on the Field
Kleyn’s absence has been felt both on and off the field. He was a vital part of Munster's success in the 2022/23 season, playing 19 of their 21 matches. His presence in the second row brought a blend of strength, power and leadership that was instrumental in their championship run. His return is a major boost for Munster as they look to reclaim the URC title.
A Boost for the Springboks
Kleyn's return to full fitness is also a massive boost for the Springboks, who have been grappling with a lock crisis this year. After winning the Rugby World Cup, the South African national team entered 2024 without Kleyn and fellow World Cup-winning lock Lood de Jager. This lock crisis continued to escalate with further injuries to key players, including Franco Mostert who broke his leg during the Ireland series and RG Snyman who missed the Rugby Championship due to an injury in training. The Springboks will head into the Rugby Championship title run-in against Argentina without several players battling injuries.
With Kleyn, Mostert, Snyman, and Salmaan Moerat all expected to be available for selection for the November internationals, Rassie Erasmus will hope to have some consistency in his second row. De Jager, however, will only return to action in January. Kleyn’s return is a positive sign for the Springboks as they prepare for the upcoming November internationals against Scotland, England, and Wales.
Looking Ahead: Munster's Season Opener
Munster’s first game of the new URC season is against Connacht at Thomond Park on September 21st. While Kleyn is now fit and available for selection, there are other injury concerns for the province. Liam Coombes and Jack Daly are looking to complete their return-to-play protocols after sustaining head injuries, while prop Dave Kilcoyne is increasing his training load after a shoulder injury. Diarmuid Kilgallen, however, will miss the start of the season as he will undergo a period of rehabilitation for a leg injury.
Munster’s Injury Crisis: A Look Back
Munster was severely hampered by an extensive injury list at the tail-end of last season and starts this new campaign without several of their star men. In addition to the players mentioned above, Brian Gleeson (shoulder), Cian Hurley (knee), Tom Ahern (ankle), Rory Scannell (ankle), Paddy Patterson (knee), Edwin Edogbo (Achilles), and Roman Salanoa (knee) will also miss the opener against Connacht.
The return of Kleyn is a beacon of hope for Munster as they look to overcome their injury woes and challenge for the URC title. However, with a number of key players still sidelined, the coming weeks will be a test of their depth and resilience.
A New Era for Munster Rugby
Despite the injury concerns, the future looks bright for Munster Rugby. The team is led by a new captain, Tadhg Beirne, who will be looking to build on the team’s recent success and lead them to a new era of dominance in the URC.
It’s a new season, and with Kleyn back in the fold, Munster will be looking to make a strong start and challenge for the championship title. The return of a crucial player like Kleyn will inspire confidence in the team and ignite passion in the fans. It will be fascinating to see how this new era for Munster unfolds and what they can achieve.
