Jean Kleyn to depart Munster at end of season for English Premiership outfit

Jean Kleyn during Munster training at the University of Limerick. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Munster are set to lose World Cup-winning lock Jean Kleyn at the end of the season with Gloucester on Tuesday announcing the South African’s signing ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Kleyn, 33, in August, was offered a contract to extend his stay at Munster into at least an 11th season following his 2016 move from the Stormers but has instead signed a three-year deal to join the English PREM club.

The decision will bring to an end a decade in Ireland which saw him capped by his adopted country five times, including at the 2019 World Cup and then by the land of his birth four years later as he was part of a Springbok squad which retained the Webb Ellis trophy in France in 2023.

Kleyn has played 160 times for Munster to date and was on Tuesday cleared to face Castres this Saturday having recovered from a calf issue which had kept him out of the pool loss at Toulon last Sunday. He started the URC grand final victory over the Stormers in Cape Town in 2023.

Munster Rugby general manager Ian Costello said: “Jean is an exceptional character and represents everything that is good about Munster. JK has had an immeasurable impact on Munster Rugby both on and off the pitch since joining the province 10 years ago.

“A complete professional, JK is a hugely popular member of the squad and I know he will be hugely missed by the playing group and all of those who work with him on a daily basis.

“We will wish him and his family all the best and as a group we will be highly motivated to ensure this season is a successful and memorable one for JK and his family.” 

The lock’s signing was celebrated by Gloucester, who lauded the capture of a “powerful and uncompromising presence in the engine room… Renowned for his physicality, work rate, and leadership, the 6’8’’ 32-year-old adds significant quality and depth to Gloucester’s forward pack.” 

Kleyn will move to England’s West Country this summer and he told his future club: “I’m thrilled to be joining Gloucester Rugby next season. It’s a club with incredible history and a passionate fan base, and the vision shared with me really matched what I was looking for in the next chapter of my career.

“I can’t wait to get started, meet the supporters, and give everything I have for this team.” 

Munster’s preparations for their must-win Thomond Park clash with Castres continued on Tuesday with the province not ruling out the availability of Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey. 

The number nine left the Toulon pitch with his arm in a makeshift sling following a shoulder injury with head coach Clayton McMillan suggesting it was a serious concern, casting doubt on Casey’s availability for next month’s Six Nations.

A more positive update came on Tuesday with Munster saying Casey’s availability to face Castres would be determined later in the week ahead of Friday’s team announcement.

Assistant coach Denis Leamy said: “We were very worried after the game, but I think relatively good news. That doesn't mean he'll play this weekend, obviously.

“He's got a significant injury to his AC, but hopefully it's not going to be too long term, that's my understanding.” 

With Paddy Patterson also ruled out, Munster’s scrum-half options for Saturday without Casey will rest on senior squad member Ethan Coughlan and academy number nine Jake O’Riordan. 

Coughlan made his Champions Cup debut off the bench in the “Covid” match at Wasps in December 2021 and his second appearance in the competition four years later in this season’s visit to Bath. A start against Castres would be his first in a European game while 21-year-old O’Riordan would be making just his third senior appearance after a debut off the bench against Connacht at the end of October and a replacement role the following week against Argentina XV.

Aside from Kleyn, Munster will also have tighthead prop Oli Jager available for the first time since a concussion on October 10 and the medical staff are also monitoring the fitness of hooker Diarmuid Barron (knee) and Tom Ahern (neck) with a view to selection this weekend.

Wing Calvin Nash, a try scorer in Toulon last Sunday, has been ruled out with a shoulder/head issue picked up in the 27-25 loss at Stade Felix Mayol in addition to Patterson, who sustained a head knock during the warm-up.