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Rugby

13th Sep 2024

Leinster reveal RG Snyman debut date following controversial Munster switch

Ryan Price

Munster fans look away now.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has unveiled when new signing RG Snyman will tog out in blue for the first time.

The Springbok lock signed for the blues at the end of last season after spending four years at rivals Munster, and was heavily involved in South Africa’s two-test showdown with Ireland in July.

In defence of the South African athlete, Munster could only retain the services of one of their two non-Irish qualified locks and chose to renew fellow Springbok Jean Kleyn’s contract ahead of Snyman’s.

Snyman, however, suffered a foot injury over the summer which has set his much-anticipated debut back at least a few weeks.

Instead of taking part in the Rugby Championship, Snyman travelled back to Dublin to undergo rehabilitation and Cullen has now given fans an expected date for the towering star to feature.

“RG came back, he injured his foot, but it’s pretty minor, thankfully,” the Leinster boss said.

“He is rehabbing with us at the moment. He was out on the side of the pitch there. I’ve just come in from a session, he was doing a rehab run. He is making progress.

“I am not sure if he will be back for round one but hopefully by round two or three, he will be back for us,” he added.

“With South Africa, in terms of the Rugby Championship, listen, he is not going to be available, you have seen they have already announced their squad for next week, he won’t travel to Argentina, so he is likely to stay with us then for the remainder.”

Munster could only retain the services of one of their two non-Irish qualified locks and chose to renew fellow Springbok Jean Kleyn’s contract ahead of Snyman’s.

With Leinster set to welcome Munster to the RDS on 12th October, it would be fitting for Snynam to return in time to face his former club.

Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, on the other hand, has returned to full training after suffering a hamstring injury in South Africa and may face Edinburgh in Leinster’s opening game on 20 September.