RG Snyman is looking for a new rugby home. Picture: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
Where will two-time World Cup-winning lock RG Snyman play next?
Will the Bok “viking” be heading back to South Africa, where he first made his mark in professional rugby at the Bulls, or will he take up another lucrative offer in Europe or perhaps even Japan?
That is the big question on rugby followers’ minds following the news that Snyman’s contract and stay with Irish side Munster will come to an end after the current season.
Snyman has won two World Cups with the Boks, in 2019 and 2023, but he has hardly played any rugby for Munster who he joined in 2020. Before that he played for Honda Heat in Japan on loan spells, while between 2015 and 2019 he represented the Bulls.
A number of unfortunate back-to-back knee injuries during his time with Munster, as well as his suffering burns in a fire-pit accident in 2021, prevented Snyman from playing regularly for the side, while a shoulder problem picked up in the World Cup final will keep the lock sidelined for several weeks again, has resulted in the parties deciding to end their association.
The 28-year-old is apparently being pursued by several teams, some in South Africa, the others in France and Japan.
Every South African franchise would love Snyman on their books as he is an experienced operator and can play No 4 and No 5 lock, as a starter and finisher. He’s got skills, power and plenty athleticism.
So, will it be the Bulls, his former home, the cash-rich Sharks, or the soon to be more financially stable Stormers, South Africa’s most successful URC team, where Snyman opts to go? It is unlikely to be the Lions, or will he head to a different club abroad? Snyman’s asking price will also play a role in where he plays next.
Meanwhile, Snyman’s World Cup-winning team-mate Jean Kleyn, who has also played for Munster for the last number of years, will continue to play for the Irish club for the next two years.
The 30-year-old, like Snyman, will continue to be available for the Springboks having changed his allegiance before the World Cup. While Kleyn was born in South Africa and previously featured for the Stormers he moved to Ireland before the 2019 World Cup and qualified to play for his adopted country, which he did at the tournament in Japan.
A change in eligibility rules allowed Kleyn to be picked by the Boks for the 2023 tournament.
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