LEINSTER HAVE CONFIRMED the signing of Munster lock RG Snyman.
The South African will join the province when his contract with Munster expires at the end of the current season.
Last month, Munster had confirmed Snyman would be leaving the province when his current deal ends.
Snyman moved to Thomond Park in the summer of 2020 but two long-term knee injuries have kept him sidelined for the majority of his time in Limerick. To date, Snyman has played just 10 games for Munster.
At his best, the South African is a game-changing presence. He played a key role for the Springboks on their way to back-to-back World Cup titles in France earlier this year and the opportunity to link up with former South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber again was an attractive prospect for Snyman. Nienaber joined Leinster as their new senior coach last month.
Snyman, who turns 29 in January, previously played with the Bulls in South Africa and Honda Heat in Japan.
The second row has been capped 34 times for South Africa, debuting at Test level in 2018.
The 6’9”, 18 stone second row featured six times for Munster last season as Graham Rowntree’s side were crowned URC champions, but has yet to feature for the province this season as he is currently sidelined with a chest/shoulder injury.
“We’re delighted that RG is joining us next season,” said Leinster head coach Leo Cullen.
He is a world class operator, coming into his prime and a powerful athlete who will bring more competition to that position for our squad.
“He is also a double-World Cup winning Springbok and all that brings in terms of experience and all our players can tap into that.
“We are always looking for ways we can improve our learning as a group and I know from speaking to Jacques that RG will hopefully help us do just that.
“His arrival is a fair bit away yet, but it’s great to have his signature and in time we can welcome him properly, but for now it’s all eyes on our trip down to Limerick on St Stephen’s Day.”
Snyman said he will continue to give his best for Munster before making the switch to their fierce rivals.
“Having settled really well in Limerick since our arrival in Ireland almost four years ago, my wife and I want to stay on in Ireland if possible,” Snyman said.
Continuing with Munster Rugby beyond June of 2024, was no longer a choice I could exercise. I will continue to give my absolute all and best for Munster, on and off the field, until the end of the season.
“After careful consideration of all offers presented, the Leinster opportunity was the one I decided on. It is an invitation that allows me to continue to stay part of a world class high performance rugby set-up. It also enables my wife and I to stay in Ireland.
“I am a professional rugby player. I need to work very hard to see to it that I add value to any system that trusts me enough to improve its cause.
“At Leinster, I will continue to be challenged to my utmost limit to improve my game and hopefully contribute to improve the club. That will be my only job and I intend to do everything to achieve this at the highest level of performance.
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and to work under Jacques Nienaber again. I want to thank Leinster for making it possible.”
Munster and Leinster meet in a URC interpro derby on St Stephen’s Day.
As a Munster fan, I’m furious. We couldn’t afford him, we’ve ploughed money into him for 4years and when we can’t afford his wages (and we can’t have 2 NIQ second rows) so he goes to our biggest rival. I hope he never darkens the door of Thomond Park again, he certainly won’t be made welcome.
As an Irish rugby fan, I’m disillusioned. How does making the strongest of our 4 teams even stronger while weakening its closest rival good for Irish rugby? The richest team, with the most resources continue to get richer while the rest of the nation must survive on the scraps. The IRFU could’ve stopped this. He’d make a proportionally far greater impact at Connacht or Ulster.
RG’s laughing all the way to the bank. Irish rugby outside D4 is worse off.
@Anthony Ryan: it was never a case of not being able to afford him
@Anthony Ryan: I don’t disagree with most of what you’ve written, but how could the IRFU block this? Under what precedent? He’s leaving anyway, might as well keep him in Ireland
@John Doe: Yes, it was a matter of not being able to afford him. It was a choice between Klein and him. Klein plays 90% of the season on average and costs c€300,000 p/a. RG has famously made 2.5appearances a season and costs (reportedly) c€750,000 p/a. So it’s a matter of being able to afford him. I got those salary estimates from Rory O’Connor on Second Captains.
@C: why would the IRFU need precedent? They make the rules and oversee the 4 provinces so why would they care about precedent?
@Anthony Ryan: how dare a free agent go where he please. How very, very dare he.
@Anthony Ryan: it was a case of not having two NIQ players in the same position. Bernard Jackman even alluded to Munster not being able to play both Snyman and Kleyn in the same team of both were available this season. Budget didn’t come into it, it was well know that RG’s salary was being funded by external backers
@Anthony Ryan: money had nothing to do with it. Munster were told to they couldn’t have him and Kleyn.
@Anthony Ryan: it was not about “being able to afford” him. This situation was inevitable as soon as Kleyn played for South Africa again. We were always going to have to make this choice. In any case, I believe he was part/fully funded by a private investor.
@Anthony Ryan: ara hang on a minute. You can’t be beating that drum. I’m a Connacht supporter and if that’s the case Connacht should be up in arms that Munster are allowed sign De Allende and Snyman which strengthened Munster and in turn weakened Connacht. Don’t forget ye took Carberry from Leinster who did not want to lose him. It was Munsters decision to keep Klyne instead of Snyman which makes Snyman fair game for Leinster. You should direct your anger towards your own province which lets be honest has been run terribly over the last number of years.
@anthony davoren: unless Munster signed de Allende and Snyman from Connacht, it didn’t weaken Connacht. Give your head a wobble. If we went and signed Bundee and Mack from Connacht, fair enough but cop on a little
@John Doe: they did try to sign Aki actually, several times actually, but he said no. De Allende is a valid argument actually, because he is just one of the NIE centres signed by Munster for over 20 consecutive seasons, when other provinces were told they couldn’t sign even short term NIE cover. Case in point, IRFU told Connacht we couldnt sign a NIE fly half as injury cover after our three fly halves were injured, yet the same season the IRFU gave its blessing to Munster having two NIE centres in Saili and Taute on their books, and playing together. Connacht were then forced to play Cooney, a scrum half with not experience playing at fly half, as fly half, with Cooney incidentally being shipped off to Ulster at season’s end because Ulster weren’t allowed to keep NIE Pienaar.
@anthony davoren: Not even remotely comparable. Carbery to Munster was a move instituted by the IRFU to improve depth in a key position for Ireland. Additionally, it has been, all in all, another costly signing for Munster given his injuries. Snyman left because (1) Munster couldn’t afford him and (2) the IRFU wouldn’t allow two NIQ locks (despite having essentially let one of their IQ lock lapse and become NIQ). Leinster have the cash with significantly more salaries subsidized by IRFU central contracts, and let’s face it, it doesn’t improve Irish lock depth. This was essentially forcing Munster’s loss for Leinster’s gain. If he’d gone to Connacht or Ulster, I would have said great for them. But this seems to be only further strengthening a team with an embarrassment of riches.
@anthony davoren: don’t forget Salanoa and Conway too! Leinster were very annoyed about both of them too, as they were both snatched straight from the province with contracts on the table.
It’s one rule for us and another for them.
@Brenda Collins: Carberry to Munster actually wasn’t instituted by the IRFU – the IRFU wanted him to go to Ulster, but Munster wanted him as a replacement for Keatley, who incidentally was a first choice player for Connacht before Munster poached him. Munster could afford him because they weren’t paying for him – a certain tax exile was. Kleyn playing for the Saffas made it inevitable that one of them had to go. Incidentally, I don’t remember chat from Munster supporters about Kleyn being disloyal because he decided to switch national teams that I’m now hearing about a player who is out of contract and is signing for another province. Munster already have a lock on a central contract, who is incidentally from Leinster, and are very lucky to have POM and Murray on central contracts too.
@JoeVlogs: Every province tries to sign each others players. That’s why the IRFU won’t allow provinces to outbid each other. Leinster tried it with Snyman, then Kleyn before they got Jenkins, they also tried Casey. Ulster tried Healy before they got Flannery, Connacht tried Cronin before he went abroad. I don’t get why you can grip at Munster signing NIQs and Connacht not being allowed. It’s the IRFU make the decision, not Munster. With regards to centres, the majority of provinces seem to have issues developing players of a certain profile. Leinster have traditionally struggled with scrum halves, Munster with centres etc and then some provinces have been lucky in other positions, Munster with outhalves, Leinster with back rows, Ulster with hookers
@JoeVlogs: whether Carbery’s move was to Ulster or Munster doesn’t matter. The point is that his move out of his home province was a move pushed by the IRFU and Joe Schmidt for the sake of the greater good of Irish rugby. Not sure why we’d be talking about an interprovincial move of an IQ player, since this is about one province being shafted on an NIQ signing. It would be like Munster signing Pienaar after IRFU telling Ulster they couldn’t keep him. And Kleyn was not disloyal – an international standard lock who gave everything to the province and had an outstanding season was repeatedly ignored by the Irish management. Kleyn made himself available for Ireland who were too stupid to given him game time. Munster pay the price and Leinster are the beneficiaries.
@Brenda Collins: Yeah… or like Declan Kidney breaking a 4 year contract with Leinster to move to Munster. Oh wait… that did happen!!
@Paul Ennis: Reaching in a big by trying to suggest that’s the same. Coaching contracts are different anyway and somehow I sense that he wasn’t any kind of loss to Leinster.
Hopefully, the lad can step up to the higher standards at Leinster.
@Daniel Murphy: gas craic
@Daniel Murphy: i suppose had to get a winner in being serial chokers
@mike o’farrell: you did watch Munster over the last two weeks? Now that’s was choking!!!!
@Daniel Murphy: and show all those well paid centrally contracted lads what winners medals look like
@Kevin: if you think that’s bad you should watch last seasons Champions Cup final…
@Daniel Murphy: haha World Class trolling there !
@Daniel Murphy: this is trolling right??
@Daniel Murphy: yes. He has loftier ambitions than a one in a row that comes around every ten or twelve years!
Enjoy the three games per calender year lads top addition
@Joseph O Reilly: definitely a concern.
@Joseph O Reilly: who knows how many after Rowntree is done with him ;)
@Joseph O Reilly: he’d probably have had far more time at Munster if your own lads hadn’t dropped him from a lineout 7 minutes into his first match. I’m not sure he ought to feel grateful for Munster paying him through that recuperation.
So IRFU prevent Munster from offering him a new contract as Kleyn is now NIQ. But they facilitate him going to rival province who don’t need him? Never fed into the IRFU favouring one province BS before but this is ridiculous. Leinster already one of the wealthiest clubs in Europe, conveyor belt of talent across the board, but yet again IRFU are backing them to cherry pick players from rival provinces who either aren’t allowed to retain them or can’t compete with the salaries Leinster offer. Doesn’t send a good message to other provinces.
@mcdb06: provinces aren’t meant to have more than one NIQ player per position, hence why it is hard to sell the idea of keeping both Snyman and Klein at Munster. Jenkins is meant to go, hence why Snyman can sign. Luckily for Munster, what with Beirne, Edogbo and Ahern, they have some really good quality there.
@JoeVlogs: But the IRFU are weakening Munster so they can strengthen Leinster. Despite Munster investing a lot of time and money into Snyman over the last few seasons. That’s the message being sent to the rest of the provinces.
@mcdb06: Just like what Munster did to Leinster with Andrew Conway and Joey Carberry – and in the process ruined both of their careers.
@James: No. Just no. Keep lying to yourself though.
@mcdb06: not really. Munster have had a NIE centre every single year for more than 20 years in a row, despite Ulster being told they couldn’t keep Pienaar as he was NIE and was blocking the development of an Irish qualified scrumhalf, and Connacht being unable to sign a NIQ medical joker for two months, because the injured player he was meant to cover was NIE. Looking at it objectively, I think most pundits would agree that Munster has gotten pretty favourable treatment with regards to NIQ players, and there is nothing “wrong” with Leinster signing Snyman. Do they need him though, or is for the best of Irish rugby? I would say no.
@mcdb06: he can go to Leinster because he will be the only NIQ second row by the time he arrives. That’s how it works. You should have learned that before jumping head first into the conspiracy theory pool
@James: Ruined their careers is a bit of a stretch. Conway left because he was blocked by an NIQ funnily enough. Hardly a ruined career if he went on to get 30 Irish caps after leaving. Carbery is down to injury, the most severe caused by Schmidt bringing him to a World Cup carrying an injury
@Gearoid MacEachaidh: You’ve completely missed the point. It’s about the IRFU not allowing Munster to keep him and then facilitating him going to their provincial rivals.
@mcdb06:
@mcdb06: I get the point. But the irfu have a policy of 1 NIQ player per position and Munster have him and Klyne. One has to go and RJ wanted to leave. The IRFU have no say in where he goes, he isn’t on a central contract.
@mcdb06: bollocks. Munster have always gotten what they need and want. Marquee signings dating back to De Villiers, howlett, then thé two saffa World Cup winners, Kleyn, fekitoa, Nankivell. Not to mention Leinster exports such as loughman, carberry, salanoa Patterson, Conway, carberry. Onwards and upwards
@mcdb06: do you think the IRFU should intentionally hold Leinster back and stop them from being too good? Is that how success should be rewarded? There are two parts to this…
1. No province is allowed to keep two NIQ players in the same position. This is not specifically against Munster. It’s a sound rule that is important for the good of Irish rugby.
2. Once Munster let Snyman go, I see no reason why the IRFU should block Leinster or any other province from signing him if they can afford him (as long as he’s the only NIQ second row).
@Conor: You can’t compare Leinster fringe players with a World Cup winning second row. Munster wanted to keep him, he wanted to stay, but IRFU said no. But he then gets to go up the road to their rivals who don’t need him. So Munster lose a player they’ve invested 4 injury plagued seasons in and Leinster reap the rewards. The way you talk about marquee signings you’d swear Leinster never signed CJ van der Linde, Nacewa, Elsom, Contepomi, Fardy, Kirchner, Stan Wright, Heinke van der Merwe. If any of them couldn’t stay at Leinster and then Munster swooped I’m sure you’d have been delighted.
@John Doe: also, as he acknowledged in his retirement statement recently, it was actually where he wanted to play anyway.
I used to mock Munster for its saffa influence – Erasmus, Van Graan, Cloete, Taute, de Allende, Klein, Knox, Jenkins and Snyman. Yet it is likely that only one of those will be left in Munster next season, with two of the players having left/leaving for Leinster, who likewise they have a new saffa coach. Guess the conveyor belt and demographic advantage of Leinster isn’t enough in the end, and they are looking to splash that cash they saved with all those central contracts. Will be exciting to see Snyman line out at the Royal Durban Society.
@JoeVlogs: lemons
@JoeVlogs: so by next year Leinster will have two saffas influences and one other niq player in natagi good rant Joe
@John Sunderland: Ngatai is out of contract at the end of this season
@chris mcdonnell: to be fair Chris, you were one of those saying that Munster was a big funder of South African farms, given the amount of saffas they were hiring. You were saying that in reference to Snyman, who it appears will be funding his South African farm with Leinster money.
@John Doe: apologies so acc potentially 1 niq player hurts joes argument
@John Doe: think he’d fit in well at munster.would love to see him join.
@Papa Kilo: Going by his reported salary, we could use that money elsewhere
I know only thinking out loud. I’m sure u know our front row needs most help wycherly coming off the bench not good enough
@JoeVlogs: It’s a poison challis, in fairness you called it back then. We wait to see.
@JoeVlogs: I am in no way happy with this signing. I don’t think leinster need him or any secondrow for that matter. I would much prefer to use the irish secondrows we have. (Now if he could play tighthead maybe that would be different) . I do find the amount of whinging amusing.
@chris mcdonnell: I hear ya. We definitely need a TH.
@John Sunderland: No… Snyman is replacing Jenkins who looks set to sign for the Sharks next year. If Munster cannot have 2 x NIQ 2nd rows, neither can Leinster.
@SPQH: we honestly don’t need a secondrow and I don’t see the point signing one with such a horrific injury profile.
As a Leinster fan it is a good signing but the IRFU have really shafted Munster. I think David Nucifora has a lot to answer for! Hopefully David Humphreys will look to improve the strength and depth outside of D4 and given his background with Ulster I’d have more faith than Nucifora. 10 central contracts in Leinster to 3 in the other provinces means there is now a real risk of alienating fans outside of D4 which seemed impossible on the back of the world cup support.
Might have to start calling them Jacques Nienaber’s Leinster.
Personally I don’t think leinster need him and I would rather we used home grown players. The big money signing should have been a tighthead which we badly need.
@chris mcdonnell: ah I wouldn’t be too concerned. I can’t see the irfu blocking leinster signing an niq tighthead
@chris mcdonnell: I’d have to disagree, there isn’t team in club rugby who doesn’t ‘need’ a fully fit Snyman. He has game changing ability at the highest levels.
On top of that if there is a criticism of this incredibly talented Leinster side it is they have lacked a bit of power and a bit of edge at the end of season games. A fit Snyman brings those attributes in spades.
@chris mcdonnell: I see getting Irish qualified tight heads to be more of a concern than importing more. Leinster are actually not that well equipped at lock. Jenkins is leaving next year and Baird seems to be nailing his mast to the blindside flanker position. That really only leaves Ryan and Malony as top players in that position.
@John Fitz: Incredibly talented is a bit of a stretch there John
@chris mcdonnell: Absolutely agree we need a TH prop. Preferably one that is a top scrummager as opposed to an all round player. With McCarthy behind this individual we could match the French teams. Poor Tadgh looks crocked for the past year or two.
@Gearoid MacEachaidh: Have you forgotten Joe McCarthy?
@chris mcdonnell: Leinster need him. Lost to the same team for the same reason three years in a row, lack of Southern Hemisphere power and class in the engine room. If we had him last May we’d have our Fifth Star now.
Welcome home RG
Obviously the JN to Leinster was a huge pull string
The irony of Leinster fans being delighted by this is hopefully not lost by most of you
There’s lots of things Leinster need, not sure another 2nd row is one of them.
@Ray Ridge: Ryan & Moloney to start, McCarthy & RG to come on after 50 minutes bomb squad style – could be the edge that Leinster need to win big ERC finals
As a Leinster man, I think that’s an awful move… Professionalism fair enough, but jeez that just sits brutal.. Hope we’re not gonna become a hub for the boks either..
@Paul Brown: more like a recovery station
@Paul Brown: what like Ulster ?
@Paul Brown: why? I thought a bit more bite in that pack was the biggest thing missing in Leinster. Leinster have usually needed to sign a player with the attitude to push them over the line. Their system may be great but it’s face it guys with that background always lack a genuine hard edge.
@Dermott Russell: like Ulster what? One SA player, 2 if you want to include Rob Herring, who qualifed though a parent, not residency. So 1 like Leinster, or Connacht and nothing like the 3 Munster have? So what like Ulster?
Just while you mention Ulster, remind me where Munster signed BJ Botha from? It wasn’t like Synman who wasn’t offered a contract at Munster, Ulster wanted to keep BJ Botha, so can’t say I have any sympathy for Munster as they have done worse poaching in the past, than Leinster signing a player Munster were releasing.
As a Munster fan I’m sickened to see him go and will be tough to watch him tear it up for Leinster, particularly against us.
While I understand the arguments for Kleyn over Snyman due to the injury record, clearly Leinster and Niemaber are aware of his condition and consider it’s not a risk.
I think the wrong choice has been made with Kleyn over Snyman. Kleyn is a great servant to Munster, but truely world class talent is hard to acquire, when you manage to get it you have to hold onto it.
No blame on Snyman on going to Leinster, likely the best offer on the table and he was out of contract.
Makes sense for Leinster, upgrade on Jenkins, and addresses their deficiencies.
Can’t blame the IRFU for applying their own rules. Although with Ahern’s move to 6, you could argue for an exception.
So where does RG fit in here? ..would he be first choice with Ryan starting or on the bench taking that Jenkins role who i presume now needs to move on due to that NIQ rule ..then there’s MCCarthy and Baird who’s down as a lock on Leinster website but seems to have played flanker the last couple of games…
@Stuart: Ryan starts as LHL and McCarthy as THL then RG on the bench or maybe start over McCarthy. Jenkins is already set to leave. Baird is very much a 6 now and would only play lock if really needed. Big loser here Molony, who don’t rate
@Stuart: Jenkins will move on. If he’s fit, he starts
@Stuart: Jenkins will be gone I reckon, he came back this way to push for space in a WC squad crowded with tight 5 talent, dunno where he’ll go, if he wants SA rugby maybe home if money maybe France. Hasn’t really kicked on tho. RG will be useful, but only for short runs. Has he had a run of more than 5 games (and all from the bench) since post pandemic? dunno if he has. Still have Esbeth, Mosart, De Jager and Klyen ahead of him. Would you?
@Stuart: strange isn’t it that Snyman couldn’t stay at Munster because he’d impact home grown players but impacting the progression of home grown players (even current internationals) is not an issue at all.
Even if he’s only fit for 10-15 games per season, as long as there the tail end, then fine. We still have Ryan, McCarthy, Molony and Deeny. Side question what does he weigh? I’ve seen 3 different sources, 118kg, 124kg and 131kg!
@Andrew Slazenger: He was around 118/119kg when he first joined Leinster from the Japanese league and then he bulked up to 131 the last few month before the RWC but now he’s been out injured again and won’t be back until March so I’d imagine he’ll have lost a lot of that.
@Harry O’ Callaghan: Interesting… I mean if he is 131kg then he’s a serious tighthead lock, not far off Skelton, and would cause serious damage
@Andrew Slazenger: When he’s fully fit he’s around that yeah. He’s an inch taller and a stone or two heavier than Etzebeth. That just says all you need to know about him haha
@Andrew Slazenger: he’s a 6’ 9” dude who weighs 130kgs give or take a kilo or two.
If I was McCarthy or Moloney, I wouldn’t be over the moon.
@Brian Flynn: McCarthy will be fine. Not so good for Moloney, but then he’s not in that different a position given Snyman is replacing Jenkins who is already keeping him out
@Kevin Ryan: Agree, I think McCarthy has what it takes,as evidenced by his efforts against LR two weeks ago. Ross has played them in two finals and been overpowered in both.
Will get pages of blue media commentary about how all the promising young goys are being blocked by Saffers. Somehow doubt it
I read the comments first.there is alot of misplaced anger..nothing like a bit of afternoon banter…hohoho.
“I want to thank Leinster for making it possible.”
*Ignores the four years of effort for Munster to make it possible and the 10 paltry games he played in that time.*
It’s not his fault, but Munster have been let down here.
@Brenda Collins: how exactly have Munster been let down? They’ve released him from contract at the end of the season. He has a family to take care of. He wants to stay in Ireland. He’s joined Leinster to do so. The level of whining and entitlement here is so Munster.
@John R: they were forced to release him due to NIQ rules and cost.
He has shown zero loyalty to Munster by signing for their bitterest rivals. 10 games in three and a half years on a colossal salary. A monumental waste of money.
@Aidan Farrell: he would have played a lot more for Munster had POM not dropped him in the line out on his first game for them.
There’s not a rugby fan in the world who doesn’t want to see him play for their club. But given the wages and the injury record (which Leinster fans have often mentioned on here) this just seems mental. Nevertheless if he stays fit they have themselves a big match winner as he showed in the RWC final. A joy to watch when he’s on the pitch and glad to have seen him in red, even if for a short few hours! Haha.
Should free up some budget and an NIQ slot for a front row signing
@John Doe: the NIQ spot will go to Jean Klyene
@John Doe: totally agree.2nd row is not an issue for us. A top class front row is now affordable and possibly a decent replacement for Joey if he leaves.
@Mick Hennessy: Kleyn and Nankivell will be two. Most provinces have been operating around the 3 NIQ squad members
@Niall English: I count only 3 – Jenkins, Ngatai and Big Mike. Who have I missed?
@Niall English: Ok , I forgot Vakh. But, as you know, he was an Irish player who was capped by Georgia during the season and became NIQ that way
@Kevin Ryan: Just like Jean Kleyn
@John Doe: But if Munster want to keep O’Mahony & Murray they will most likely be paying them out of their own pocket from the end of this season so that will eat up whatever savings they are getting from Snyman’s 2nd contract.
La Rochelle have big Will Skelton. Leinster had Brad Thorn and Rocky Elsom. These players help make the difference in finals. I don’t have any problem with NIQ players so long as they are in to make a difference. RG could make the difference and help the Irish guys get to the next level.
Welcome to Leinster RG. Looking forward to seeing you play!
#FromTheGroundUp
As a Munster fan, I’ve a lot of time for RG. But to be honest, him leaving doesn’t bother me at all. I’ve seen this called ‘an outrageous coup for Leinster’ which is a bit baffling! Is his injury profile going to dramatically improve just because he’s moving to another team?! I doubt it. This could be a big risk for Leinster but one they, unlike other provinces, can afford to take.
Fair enough, it wasn’t right having the 3 best locks in the country at Munster.
I hope he has better luck with the fitness at Leinster, Munster were right to let him walk, they kept Kleyn and have loads of options in second row. There are other positions they could be making better use of the big budget NIQ player. Plus need someone who can play more than 3 or 4 matches a year.
RG is dead right, leaving a sinking ship and clearly has some ambition!
@Jim Dumps: That would have worked last season but feels dated…. as does the name
Replacing James Ryan
Watching sport for 50 years. Those with the most don’t always prevail. More can often be less…. This signing suggests an infallible Leinster. That said, scripts like this have a habit of giving some surprising twists. Synman is a gifted rugby player, that is not in doubt. However the incremental effect is less when you have quality there already.
Final comment: is a Leinster embracing SA philosophy such a good thing? ultra defensive set up and “big bruisers” to arm wrestle their way to penalty based victory while the lads in the back three atrophy because of inaction. Be careful what you wish for….
Possible Leinster team for next year open to debate obviously
1. Porter 2.Sheehan 3. Furlong 4. snyman 5. Ryan 6. Baird 7. Jvdf 8. Doris 9. Jgp. 10 Byrne 11. Obrien 12. Henshaw 13. Ringrose 14. Lowe 15. Keenan 16. Kellher 17 Healy 18. Clarkson 19. McCarthy 20. Conan 21. McGrath. 22 Frawley 23. Larmour
Snyman only niq personally see it as a great move for Leinster as they have struggled against the likes of Skelton and more physical opposition. Hopefully snyman can help bring that extra bit of physicality
@John Sunderland: they’ll most likely bring in another NIQ tighthead. Furlong looks the shadow of his former self
@John Doe: yes agree John clarkson probably not up to the standard just yet aswell
@Niall English: Porter switching back is the alternative to Leinster signing a NIQ TH
@John Sunderland: I’m not 100% convinced he’s the dog ye need in the second row think he’s skills are more offloading making line breaks.lets see..
@John Sunderland: probably would have Boyle for Healy too , wouldn’t worry on TH too much , lots of prospects like Clarkson who will get game time – remember Furlong came from academy in 2015 and by 2017 was best TH in the world
@Niall English: suspect Bokke TH incoming at Leinster
Ah munster are awful cry babies,1 draw,1 embarrassing loss and already talking up a big win over leinster……we would have to send the B/C team again….
@David Clarke: careful now, ye tried that last year in the urc semi and look how that turned out
Hope he break his leg on his debut for Leinster.
@Finbarr Ryan: I’m assuming you’re from a theatrical background and this comment is well meant. Otherwise, it’s a disgraceful thing to say about anyone.
@Finbarr Ryan: horrible
@Finbarr Ryan: you do realise he had basically no injury profile prior to being signed by Munster, but got injured in his first match for them because POM dropped him in a line out?
That’s hard to take ffs
We should have left this fellow where he was on the shelf
Ross Moloney should point blank refuse to sign for connaught
You have a very short little memory. Leinster v Munster Dublin, URC Final-sinking ship my arse. You should go to spec savers