CJ Stander had belief that Munster's future was bright

The back-row forward who gave his all for his adopted province retired believing a bright future for Munster was just around the corner

RETURNING HERO: Former Munster and Ireland player CJ Stander acknowledges the crowd during Munster's clash with South Africa in 2022. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

CJ Stander may have won a Six Nations Grand Slam with Ireland but trophies were impossible to come by during his eight years with Munster. Yet when he surprised the rugby world by quitting the professional game at the age of 31 to return home to his native South Africa, the back-row forward who gave his all for his adopted province did so believing a bright future for Munster was just around the corner.

Stander dropped his bombshell at the tail end of 2020-2021, announcing he would be leaving Ireland behind during that season’s Six Nations and then saying his farewells a couple of months later, with 156 appearances in red, 51 caps in green and Test selection for the British & Irish Lions underlining his importance to the cause.