Jean Kleyn on Springbok opportunity: I couldn't let it pass

Ireland lock Jean Kleyn revealed he couldn™t let the chance of playing for the Springboks go by.

The five-capped lock will be - pending an eligibility query - the 41st member of coach Jacques Nienaber's 40-man Springbok training squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship earlier this week, turning a few heads in the process.

Kleyn - who was born and raised in Linden outside Johannesburg - went through the Western Province youth structures before earning his senior cap and a place in the Stormers lineup in 2014.

In 2016, the University of Stellenbosch graduate secured an early release from his Western Province contract to head to Munster, where his performances earned him an Ireland cap in 2019 and a trip to the Rugby World Cup.

Despite superlative performances for URC champions Munster - where he was named the club's player of the 2022/2023 season - Kleyn was omitted from Owen Farrel's 2023 Rugby World Cup squad.

But Ireland's loss could be the Springboks' gain...

"When I was approached, I was overwhelmed by the opportunity to be part of the Springbok squad," the 29-year-old told Rapport.

"I couldn't let the chance pass. This opportunity that my home country is offering me is an honour that I never thought I would get."

Looking at Nienaber's 41-man squad, Kleyn could provide cover for the injured Eben Etzebeth or Salmaan Moerat, especially with the latter potentially missing the upcoming Rugby World Cup altogether through injury.

In terms of logistics, with Kleyn's last appearance for Ireland in 2019, he should be eligible to represent another nation under Regulation 8 of World Rugby's new rules. SA Rugby have written to the governing body to clarify the lock's eligibility.