The world still hasn't seen the best of RG Snyman, says former coach

Earlier this week, Leinster confirmed that the powerful double World Cup winner would be joining them from rivals Munster next season.

This came after Munster announced that they would not be renewing his contract. Following confirmation of his departure, Snyman was linked to multiple clubs, including Premiership outfit Bath.

However, Leinster reportedly offered Snyman a highly lucrative one-season contract to make the move to Dublin, which Bath could not compete with.

Prior to the announcement of his signing, Van Graan commented on the Springbok during an interview on the Rugby Pod.

"What I would say about him is he's one of the best players I've coached," the Bath boss said.

"He was in the same school as I was, Affies (Afrikaanse Hoer Seunskool in Pretoria).

"He's a phenomenal athlete, the things that he can do with ball in hand are incredible, and I don't think the world has seen the best of him yet.

"Talent-wise, he's one of the best that I've ever coached. All that I can say is that wherever he goes, whichever team takes him, they are lucky to have him.

"On top of that, he is an incredible human being. I've got the utmost respect for RG; wherever he goes, I wish him the very best."

Van Graan was head coach at Munster when the Province signed Snyman, but the 28-year-old struggled with injuries during his time with the side.

Since he arrived at the side in 2020, he has played just ten times for the men in red. He is currently nursing another injury he sustained during the Rugby World Cup Final victory over New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Munster coach Graham Rowntree admitted he was shocked by the news that Snyman would be joining rivals Leinster next season.

"It was a huge surprise, I'm not going to lie," he told reporters ahead of the Irish derby on Boxing Day.

"I wasn't fully aware of where he was going, and there was chat of him going to Bath to see my old mate and his former coach Johann van Graan.

"There was chat about him going back to South Africa. Yeah, I was surprised. This is a business, isn't it?

"I sat down with him the first week in November and said there wasn't a contract for him, unfortunately. Within a couple of weeks, this news is upon us; he's going to Leinster," he added.

"There we go, we deal with it, we row on. I have no doubt about his commitment to us to the end of the season. We have seen it in the last couple of days, in particular, but it is what it is.

"We can't determine where he goes, I'm the bloke sitting in front of him saying we haven't anything for him.

"It's not like we have been outbid by Leinster. We had nothing for him. That's business. I am quite able to move on. I have more things to consider on my mind at the moment than this."

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