Bernard Jackman says he has sympathy for Munster regarding the province being forced to choose between RG Snyman and Jean Kleyn.
Two-time South African World Cup winner Snyman, who had been at Thomond Park since the summer of 2020, will join Leinster when his Munster deal expires at the end of the season. It was announced last month that Snyman's fellow South African Kleyn had been given a two-year extension to his Munster contract.
Munster were forced to choose between the pair as both are non-Irish qualified. Kleyn became non-Irish qualified this year when he decided to switch international allegiance back to his native South Africa from Ireland. He went on to be part of the Springboks squad which won the World Cup.
27 May 2023; Munster players, from left, Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman and Tadhg Beirne celebrate at the final whistle of the United Rugby Championship Final match between DHL Stormers and Munster at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Sportsfile
"I don't think it's fair that they had to choose between Jean Kleyn and RG Snyman. I have sympathy for Munster from that point of view," Jackman told the RTÉ Rugby Podcast.
"I think it was an unfortunate set of circumstances that led to Munster having two non-Irish qualified locks. Jean Kleyn not getting picked for Ireland for a period of time and then going to South Africa, that wasn't really Munster's fault.
"I have sympathy for Munster, if he's being allowed stay in Ireland, he potentially should be allowed stay in Munster.
"Once that decision was made and he's going to leave Munster, then I have no issue with him going to Leinster, or Connacht or Ulster if that had been the case.
"It's brutal for Munster. Potentially, Munster might not have been able to afford Snyman anyway."
Snyman said on Tuesday that he and his wife wished to stay in Ireland as they had "settled really well in Limerick" and that remaining at "Munster Rugby beyond June of 2024, was no longer a choice I could exercise". Both remarks suggest that he was open to staying at Munster.
Word that Snyman was set to join Leinster first came from Gerry Thornley in the Irish Times last week. Jackman said he was "surprised but happy" to read the report.
2 April 2022; Leinster head coach Leo Cullen speaks with Munster players, from right, Jason Jenkins, Jean Kleyn and RG Snyman after the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Leinster at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
"Happy that he's staying in Irish rugby, happy that one of the provinces have been able to secure him," Jackman continued.
"I'm in favour of it, and that's not with my Leinster ex-player hat on. I genuinely think that he is one of the best players in the world.
"I know Munster have been so unlucky in terms of the amount he'd been able to play for them. I think back to that [URC] final in Cape Town and I think he had moments in that game which helped Munster lift that trophy. He'll have moments when he comes back from this injury where he's going to make Munster harder to beat.
"Leinster need someone of his quality. They have the bodies to get the job done for most of the year but obviously having looked at the last two finals against La Rochelle, the final they lost against Saracens, the semi-final they lost against La Rochelle, you just feel that they might be two world class players away from being to get over the line. I fully support the IRFU allowing the provinces go out and sign players of his quality.
"Obviously, there are risks with his injury profile but he's so good and different when he's fit that it's a risk worth having when you have lots of money like Leinster do and you have lots of other players who players who can cover.
"I think it's good to see them taking the risk. They have played it too safe in the last few years in terms of their non-Irish qualified player signings."
"It's good to see them taking the risk..."@bernardjackman is glad to see RG Snyman staying in Irish rugby, but says it was unfair on Munster having to choose between him and Jean Kleyn. 🔴🔵
📺🎧Full podcast: https://t.co/juO83rdZQz pic.twitter.com/9F9HpGlSSS
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 20, 2023
See Also: Rumoured Joey Carbery Move From Munster To France Could Trigger Leinster Domino Effect
