SOUTH AFRICAN DUO Chris Cloete and Gerbrandt Grobler have signed for Munster, the Irish province confirmed today.
Southern Kings and Pumas flanker Cloete has signed a three-year contract, while lock Grobler joins on a one-year deal.
26-year-old Cloete made 21 appearances and scored six tries for the Port Elizabeth Super Rugby side during their 2017 campaign, and previously represented the the Western Province in the Currie and Vodacom Cups, in addition to a stint playing in Sri Lanka.
Known for his impressive work at the breakdown, Cloete has also lined out for the South African ‘A’ side.
Meanwhile, Grobler joins from Top 14 side Racing 92. He scored five tries in 20 appearances for the French team in the 2016-17 season, featuring in their Champions Cup round 2 clash against Munster.
The 25-year-old second row previously played for Western Province in the Currie and Vodacom Cups, as well as representing the Stormers in Super Rugby.
Both signings are subject to the players in question being granted valid work permits and obtaining medical clearance.
Grobler will link up with Munster in pre-season, while Cloete is set to join his new team-mates following the completion of his Currie Cup commitments.
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They both sound like good players especially the flanker but im not sure back row was where we needed to use one of the niq spots. Still, looking forward to seeing them.
How can you sound like a good player.
@Kie Ran: their track records per the article sound impressive, but i have not seen either play, therefore they sound like they are good players and i am looking forward to seeing them play in person to see if they do well for us…would you like further ellaboration?
no
@Kie Ran: Nothing better to do than nitpick other people’s comments? Why don’t you put some effort into writing your own.
Guilty
@Kie Ran: eg played 10 games scored 22 tries. That sounds like a good player.
Strong SA contingent in Munster now. Rassie has serious connections with his home nations teams. I wonder who will replace him? Anyone heard any names yet? I read a post on facebook and Stuart Lancaster was mentioned even though he signed at Leinster. IRFU and Munster need to land a top quality defence and head coughing team to keep us competitive.
There was some Gossip yesterday that Felix Jones would take over in January until the end of season.
@Ted Logan: Not sure about that one….i think they need to land someone big. Taking over a team mid-season is going to be a disaster. Let Rassie go now and bring in the new guys straight away.
@Darren Mccarthy: the severance package would be huge. Unless there’s mutual consent, I don’t see Rassie leaving til Christmas.
@Darren Mccarthy: But why do we need all these saffers? Munster was always a family club built on strong tradition. Bring these guys in and they’re unbelievably diluting what’s good about the place. Why do we need a back row? Taking away from the likes of Conor Oliver who many believed was gonna take off and be our starting 7 this year. No need for your man cloete and grobler is only a oversized juicehead mongo
@Liam Flague: Yep i do agree with ya. Im all for Home grown players and think we have the talent in most positions. However i don’t think we have the home grown couching staff just yet.
@Paul K Murphy: the lions lads will need a long recovery period, pre season training has started and key players are still in NZ and had no break. We prob won’t see POM, CJ and Murray until October.
@Paul K Murphy: ehhh because they’re all talking Afrikaans in their groups on the training pitch maybe and they’re only playing for their wages, not yheor families and friends like the home grown talents… POM and stander are blindside flankers and number 8 respectively, now can you tell me why we signed a 7 to cover them if they’re both gonna be away?
@Paul K Murphy: jesus paul i have to be honest every comment iv read in past that you have written makes me want to read no bs no waffling the type of fella i would enjoy a pint with at the airport lol
@Paul K Murphy: lol mate fact
Chris Cloete is a serious signing, excellent at the breakdown, hits hard, powerful carrier, quick like a good openside should be. Quite abrasive though, don’t think he will get away with a lot of what he does super rugby in the NH. Really excited about him though.
@Dave Barry: I just hope he doesn’t take away much game time from Conor Oliver. Really want to see more of him next season.
@Dave Barry: a three year signing, and un capped for SA, probably an IRFU project player
Great to see Stander paving the way for all these South Africans to play for Ireland.
@Kie Ran: Actually it was Strauss who played first for us.
Anyway look at the Irish depth now especially in the back row, and from 1 Jan 18, lads signing will need 5 years (1 Jan 21 cut off for 3 years) so I wouldn’t worry yourself too much. Only current player I can see with a huge chance is aki and Henshaw and Ringrose will be hard to crack anyway. Bar that I’m not sure if James Lowe is an all black or does Maori count? I’d be confident any player would have to be exceptional anyway to beat an Irish one. Don’t think many could be argued.
@MunsterFan: It was Dion O’Cuinneagain back in 1998 who paved the way for both of them. Award me Pedant Points !
@stenaldinho: that is impressive, well played sir.
@MunsterFan: Maori ABs isn’t the designated 2nd team for NZ so Lowe will be Irish qualified in 3 years
@stenaldinho: OCuinneagain though a Saffa didn’t require a qualification period
@JF Murphy: maybe Rob Kearney might be finished by then. !!!!!!
@JF Murphy: cheers for the clarification, so presumably SA A’s are their designated second team, would that mean that this flanker will never be Irish qualified so regardless?
@stenaldinho: his dad is Irish, so Dion was eligible to play for Ireland from day one.
@Paul K Murphy: ah ok cheers!
@Mark Smith: No, Kearney is staying til Ireland wins a World Cup so he can claim credit for it. Tony Ward will have an orgasm about the greatest fullback ever, in the universe, believe you me and he’ll compare it to when he was (not that he likes to draw comparisons mind) the bestest challenger ever to Ollie Campbell..for whom he has nothing but admiration and respect…
Chris Cloete bargain of the season!
@John Smith: ya a serious player, really good signing
When Was Grobler banned for two years for steroids
@Harry Malinder: in 2014, he was banned up until October 16. Not good history and so recent as well, strange signing.
@Terrymar: don’t mind the Saffas, it’s the drug cheats that I detest.
How much money have Munster got? It seems an endless amount of signings between this year and last.
@Chris Mcdonnell: id say the money freed from what we were paying sailli and chisolm is prob where most of it came from for these two.
@Chris Mcdonnell: Not every province has the luxury of the IRFU bankrolling 8 of their players which unfortunately means we can’t afford everyone and must replace players now and again. It must be quite a foreign concept supporting a team where players get national contracts for life regardless of form or ability.
@Rochelle: im definitely sure jamie heaslip stood u up in coppars one night lol ur playing the same broken smallest violin over and over rochelle jesus , and im from galway and support all the provinces so not biased , dnt get me wrong some of ur comments are highly intelligent but then its like you give ur phone to a child at times
@Rochelle: I think you’ll find that Leinster grow most of their own players and share a few around the other provinces.
They won’t be the only South African pair coming to the Pro 12; The Kings and Cheetahs have been booted from Super Rugby and according to BBC are set to join the Pro 12 next season: http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/40522124
@China Photo Daily: I thought both clubs had been accepted by Pro12 for the upcoming season?
Grobler unlucky that he’s being vilified for drug use. I’d say the vast majority of professional players are on performance-enhancing substances. The lad must’ve just got his cycle wrong. He’s probably learnt his lesson, and I’d say he’ll be more careful in future to make sure the performance aids he takes will have cleared his system before testing periods come up.
@beni gabor: that’s pretty cynical but probably true.
Grobler has seemed like a great prospect for a while. Seems like a smart player from what I saw of him playing for racing
@Kendo90: and a druggie. No excuse for that in the game. Shouldn’t have signed him, simple as.
Cloete should be good back-up for Conor Oliver when the Leinsterman is away on Ireland duty, which will be often, hopefully. Very smart and skilful player.
Signing a lock for 12 months hopefully that means we’ll get Tadgh Beirne or Ultan Dillane next year.
@Liam Ó Duibhir: hold ur horses