Thaakir Abrahams’ Munster departure confirmed by Bulls

The move to his native South Africa ends a two-season spell in Ireland.

Munster's Thaakir Abrahams who is set to depart the province. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Thaakir Abrahams’ exit from Munster this summer and return to his native South Africa has been confirmed after the Bulls listed the back-three player as one of their 11 new signings for 2026-27.

The move ends a two-season spell in Ireland for the 27-year-old, who signed from French Top 14 club Lyon in 2024 having begun his professional career with the Sharks in Durban.

Abrahams, who has played at 11, 14 and 15 for Munster in his time at the province, made his 13th appearance of the season on the right wing as a late replacement for the injured Shane Daly in last Saturday’s URC derby loss at Connacht. He has scored five tries in his 25 total caps to date, though his most memorable moment in a Munster jersey may well prove to be his game-changing line break in last season’s Champions Cup Round of 16 victory at La Rochelle, a charge upfield resulting in a try assist for supporting runner Craig Casey in a dramatic 25-24 defeat of Ronan O’Gara’s side.

Abrahams’ exit opens up one of Munster’s three Non-Irish Qualified (NIQ) berths for Clayton McMillan to bolster his squad, with the head coach having already indicated he will not seek a like-for-like replacement for the outgoing back-three player. Scarlets and South Africa hooker Marnus van der Merwe is set to join this summer to take up his departing compatriot Jean Kleyn’s NIQ spot, with New Zealand-born centre Alex Nankivell holding down the other berth until at least the end of next season.

A move for an overseas tighthead prop could be a priority though Munster would likely have to wait until the end of next year’s World Cup to bring in a world-class operator in that position and the signing of Connacht’s Ireland-capped tighthead Jack Aungier for next season, as revealed by the Irish Examiner last Friday, could give McMillan a very solid option in the Munster front row in the meantime. An alternative NIQ option could be a playmaking back, with the versatility to cover 10, 12 and 15, but a foreign back-three player is not on the shopping list.

That view was reinforced on Monday with the announcement of a new contract for wing Diarmuid Kilgallen, the 25-year-old signed from Connacht who has committed his future to Munster by signing a new two-year deal. With six tries in 15 appearances to date during an injury-hampered first two seasons, Kilgallen has followed Ireland international wing Calvin Nash in signing up to the summer of 2028 with positional rivals Daly, Shay McCarthy and Sean O’Brien all committed to the end of next season.