Munster lock back in SA to face Bok teammates
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Jean Kleyn is back in South Africa for Munster's United Rugby Championship match in Round Five on Saturday.
The Springbok lock was included in the Munster touring squad after making his return to the pitch at the start of the new URC season following a lengthy lay-off due to injury.
Kleyn sustained an eye injury in his first game back for Munster in what was his one and only match for the team last season.
This caused him to miss all of the Springboks’ matches to date in 2024 which included two Tests against Ireland - who he represented at the 2019 World Cup racking up five caps in total.
The Munster team and management arrived in Cape Town on Tuesday with a squad of 32 players.
Following the game against the Stormers, they head to Durban to take on the Sharks on October 26.
Five Munster Rugby Academy players are included - props Ronan Foxe and Kieran Ryan, lock Evan O’Connell, flank Ruadhán Quinn and Ben O’Connor.
Emerging Ireland captain Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Evan O’Connell and Ben O’Connor stayed in South Africa on completion of the Emerging Ireland tour and met up with the squad in Cape Town.
Alex Nankivell (shoulder), Tom Ahern (ankle) and Ruadhán Quinn (head) all returned to action at the weekend and came through the game with no issues.
Billy Burns (shoulder), Shane Daly (elbow) and Rory Scannell (ankle) have all returned to full training and travelled with the squad to Cape Town.
On the injury front following Saturday’s clash against Leinster, Diarmuid Barron failed a HIA (Head Injury Assessment) and is following the return to play protocols. Barron has travelled with the squad and is unavailable for Saturday’s clash against Stormers.
Paddy Patterson (knee), Diarmuid Kilgallen (leg), Brian Gleeson (shoulder), Thaakir Abrahams (thigh) and Liam Coombes (leg) are on track to be available for selection next month.
Mark Donnelly has undergone ankle surgery following an injury sustained on the Emerging Ireland tour and will be unavailable for six to eight weeks.
Josh Wycherley had neck surgery last week and will be out for four months.
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Munster Touring Squad:
Forwards: Diarmuid Barron, Scott Buckley, Eoghan Clarke, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Ronan Foxe, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Kieran Ryan, Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne, Jean Kleyn, Evan O’Connell, Fineen Wycherley, Gavin Coombes, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Ruadhán Quinn.
Backs: Craig Casey, Ethan Coughlan, Conor Murray, Billy Burns, Jack Crowley, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly, Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Ben O’Connor.