Bok bruiser back in South Africa to face Stormers and Sharks

The 2024/2025 United Rugby Championship is well and truly underway and Kleyn is part of the 32-player Munster squad set to do battle against the Stormers this Saturday, followed by a visit to the Shark Tank next week.

Kleyn picked up an eye injury in his only appearance for the Irish club last season, which kept him sidelined and out of all of the Springboks' Tests this year. His last appearance in the green and gold was in the World Cup final almost one year ago.

But the Randburg native has fully recovered and started in all four of Munster's URC clashes this season.  

Five Munster Rugby Academy players are included in the squad - props Ronan Foxe and Kieran Ryan, lock Evan O'Connell, flanker Ruadhán Quinn and back three player Ben O'Connor.

Emerging Ireland captain Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Evan O'Connell and Ben O'Connor stayed in South Africa on completion of the Emerging Ireland tour and met the squad in Cape Town today.

Alex Nankivell (shoulder), Tom Ahern (ankle) and Ruadhán Quinn (head) all returned to action at the weekend and came through the game with no issues.

Billy Burns (shoulder), Shane Daly (elbow) and Rory Scannell (ankle) have all returned to full training and travelled with the squad to Cape Town.

On the injury front following Saturday's clash against Leinster, Diarmuid Barron failed a HIA and is following the return to play protocols. Barron has travelled with the squad and is unavailable for Saturday's clash against Stormers.

Back at the HPC, Paddy Patterson (knee), Diarmuid Kilgallen (leg), Brian Gleeson (shoulder), Thaakir Abrahams (thigh) and Liam Coombes (leg) are on track to be available for selection next month. Mark Donnelly has undergone ankle surgery following an injury sustained on the Emerging Ireland tour and will be unavailable for six to eight weeks. Josh Wycherley had neck surgery last week and will be out for four months.