The bombshell news landed late on Thursday night. RG Snyman looks set to depart Munster at the end of the season - and Leinster is now his most likely destination.
Munster confirmed last month that Snyman would depart, while his fellow Springbok Jean Kleyn would remain in Limerick. Rumours in recent weeks have linked Snyman with several destinations next summer, with Bath among those most frequently posited as an option.
For a far more controversial option, Wales legend Sam Warburton was among those who suggested that Leinster should move for the twice-World Cup-winning Springbok (along with our own Colman Stanley).
That almost unthinkable option now seems fated to come true, with Gerry Thornley of the Irish Times breaking the stunning news on Thursday night that Leinster - aided by the recent arrival of ex-Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber - are set to snap up Snyman when his Munster contract ends.
Needless to say, the reaction could not have been more different on either side of the Leinster-Munster divide.
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Reports link RG Snyman with move to Leinster next summer
Munster fans were - somewhat understandably - more than a little miffed when news broke of RG Snyman's potential move to the RDS for next season.
The second row has played just ten games for Munster since signing for the province in the summer of 2020, and some fans were frustrated that the team's loyalty to him through injury issues had been thrown back at them with a move to their fiercest rivals.
RG Snyman was once one of my favourite players to come to Munster.. 13,000 injuries later, 14 games over two years and now he joins Leinster. Big streak of misery, get him on the first Green Bus up to Dublin. Waste of time!
— Cormac Connolly (@CormacConnolly9) December 15, 2023
Yeah, it's a bit surprising but given that Snyman, no matter how good he has been when he actually played, has been injured most of the time he has been at Munster, there was no justification for offering him a further deal... pic.twitter.com/VP62n95jyv
— Dermot Keyes (@DermotKeyes) December 15, 2023
Snyman joining Leinster. 🐍 🐍 🐍
— Eoin Green (@The_GreenBean) December 14, 2023
I really hope RG Snyman's cereal gets very soggy before he eats it this morning 🤔
— Conor Counihan (@ConorCounihan) December 15, 2023
I’m livid with RG Snyman. A whole new meaning of adding “insult to injury!” Did he learn nothing about Irish rugby in his time here #munsterrugby #leinsterrugby pic.twitter.com/MGxGNBC5X6
— Liam Kidney 🇮🇪🇺🇦 (@LiamDKidney) December 14, 2023
However, there were those who understood that Snyman was justified in wanting to stay in the country where he and his family have become settled - and those who noted that it was in fact Munster who made the decision to end his contract in favour of keeping Kleyn.
Munster legend Donal Lenihan was among those who presented an argument in defence of Snyman. Lenihan told RTÉ Sport:
It's just been incredibly unfortunate for Munster that he's had so much injury. But I think Munster people will be really disappointed if he ends up in Leinster.
Think about it from his point of view, he wouldn't have to leave Ireland, his family I know love it in Limerick - it makes a lot of sense even if there'll be a sting to the tail, I think from a Munster perspective.
On the other side of the divide, a strong cohort of Leinster fans are positively giddy with excitement at their apparent coup from Munster.
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. RG Snyman
5. James Ryan pic.twitter.com/eZIolzW0sY— Paddy O'Brien (@Paddy__Paddy) December 15, 2023
Aw the meltdown is gonna be unreal. Jason Jenkins now RG Snyman. I look forward to the day this is announced. https://t.co/xYGF1RcsLV
— Ross Barnett (@rbarnett08) December 15, 2023
RG Snyman
He’s one of our own pic.twitter.com/pKvz6fI1Td— Pete Farrell 🇧🇹 (@PeteFarrell14) December 15, 2023
So, the RG Snyman business. First of all, as a piece of comedic theatre, it has to go down as one of the all time greats. It also looks to have Nienebar’s fingerprints all over it. There seems to be nothing Saffer coaches love more than getting under the skin of their rivals.
— Whiff of Cordite (@WhiffofCordite) December 15, 2023
My take on the Snyman thing is that I'm not actually sure how wise it is for Leinster to use one of our NIQ spots for a player with his injury profile (particularly when we're relatively well stocked for locks) but, crucially, it is very funny.
— Hugo Gordon (@HugoGordon1) December 15, 2023
Snyman would not be the first South African lock to move from Munster to Leinster in recent years. Last year, Snyman's former Bulls teammate Jason Jenkins completed a contentious transfer to Leinster, having linked up with Snyman and Kleyn at Thomond Park for the 2021-22 season. Given the pedigree of 28-year-old Snyman, with his two World Cup medals in tow, this move feels like a different beast altogether.
We await an official announcement from either Leinster or Munster but it seems as though RG Snyman is set to be at the centre of one of the most contentious transfer sagas in recent Irish sporting memory.
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