Ex ‘Baby Blacks’ skipper Bleyendaal joins Munster

Munster put some gloss on a losing weekend yesterday when the province announced the capture of former New Zealand Junior World Cup-winning captain Tyler Bleyendaal on a three-year contract.

The 23-year-old Canterbury and Crusaders back can play fly-half or inside centre, playing 19 times for the latter in the Super XV. He led the U20s All Blacks to victory at the 2010 Junior World Championships in Argentina and made 19 Super Rugby appearances for the Crusaders, scoring two tries and scoring 119 points as back-up to Colin Slade.

“I am really excited to be heading to a new challenge of playing in a great competition in a new part of the world, for a world-renowned team,” Bleyendaal said. “The decision was not an easy one as my time with Canterbury and the Crusaders has been amazing, being involved with quality people every day has made the place special. From the research I have done I am sure Munster will be very similar, a proud team with a great record.”