Confirmed: Munster must plan without Peter O'Mahony and Jean Kleyn for Champions Cup opener

Kleyn sustained an eye injury in the loss at Leinster and following a specialist review has been ruled out until the new year

BLOW: Munster's Jean Kleyn

Munster will have to start their Champions Cup campaign on Saturday without Peter O’Mahony and Jean Kleyn, with the South African World Cup winner ruled out until the New Year.

Monday’s squad update following last Friday’s 40-29 home win in Cork over URC leaders Glasgow Warriors made for sobering reading ahead of the home Pool 3 opener against Champions Cup newcomers Bayonne.

Kleyn sustained an eye injury in the previous week’s loss at Leinster and following a specialist review last week the lock was ruled out until next month, though he is due to have a further follow-up before Christmas.

Kleyn’s absence follows last week’s news of his Springbok second-row partner RG Snyman’s likely absence until March having underdone surgery after the World Cup final victory over New Zealand on a chest/shoulder issue.

Also out for this weekend is former captain Peter O’Mahony, whom Munster reported was seeing improvement in the shoulder injury the flanker sustained on his return from World Cup duty against the Stormers on November 18. The Ireland star will remain unavailable for the Bayonne clash, however, paving the way for a possible comeback the following weekend at Exeter Chiefs.

Graham Rowntree will be able to welcome back a trio of players to training this week, with back-rower Jack O’Donoghue cleared following an ankle injury in that 10-3 win over the Stormers. Back-three players Simon Zebo (knee) and Pa Campbell (ankle) are also set to step up their returns this week with all three being monitored before their availability for the weekend is determined.

There were two further additions to the rehabilitation list that also numbers Joey Carbery (wrist), Mike Haley (hip), Cian Hurley (ankle/achilles), Roman Salanoa (knee) and Niall Scannell (groin), with Jack Daly (ankle) and Liam Coombes (shoulder) both undergoing surgery last week.

Head coach Rowntree is set to reveal his team to face Bayonne on Friday at noon.