Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Denis Leamy (l) and Mike Prendergast (r)

Prendergast and Leamy agree new Munster deals

Munster have secured some badly needed stability on their coaching team as Mike Prendergast and Denis Leamy have both agreed new contracts to remain at the province.

United Rugby Championship • 26 Nov 24

Jean Kleyn was due to make his Springboks return

Munster lock Kleyn drops out of Springboks team

Munster lock Jean Kleyn is a late withdrawal from the South Africa team for their Autumn Nations Series game against Wales on Saturday.

Rugby • 22 Nov 24

Munster lock Kleyn drops out of Springboks team

Munster lock Jean Kleyn is a late withdrawal from the South Africa team for their Autumn Nations Series game against Wales on Saturday.

Rugby • 22 Nov 24

Jean Kleyn hasn't played for South Africa since the World Cup due to injury

Munster's Kleyn joins up with Springboks squad

South Africa have called up Munster's Jean Kleyn as an injury replacement for second row Ruan Nortje, who has been ruled out of their Autumn international tour with a leg injury suffered in training, officials said on Thursday.

Rugby • 07 Nov 24

Jean Kleyn only played once last season for Munster

Returning Kleyn is 'like a new signing' for Munster

Munster are hopeful that both Jean Kleyn and Tom Ahern will be fit for the start of the new United Rugby Championship season later this month.

United Rugby Championship • 04 Sep 24

Jean Kleyn suffered the eye injury against Leinster nine days ago

Munster lock Kleyn out until New Year with eye injury

Munster have been dealt another injury blow after lock Jean Kleyn was ruled out until the New Year with an eye injury.

Rugby • 04 Dec 23

Jean Kleyn and RG Snyman have rarely played together since Snyman joined in 2020

Kleyn signs extension as Munster confirm Snyman exit

Jean Kleyn has signed a new two-year contract with Munster, but fellow South African World Cup-winning lock RG Snyman will leave at the end of the season.

Rugby • 27 Nov 23

Kleyn is reportedly a target for French side Lyon

Munster fight to keep Kleyn amid interest from France

Munster will have Jean Kleyn available for their big BKT United Rugby Championship Interpro against Leinster on 26 November, while head coach Graham Rowntree says the province will do everything they can to keep the World Cup winner at the province next season.

Rugby • 07 Nov 23

Kleyn: 'The support was really heartfelt from a lot of Munster fans and it made it a lot easier for me because I thought it would be quite a negative reaction when I declared for the Springboks'

Irish support spurring Kleyn on 'fantastic journey'

Former Ireland international Jean Kleyn acknowledges being on the verge of becoming a world champion with his native South Africa was "outside the realm of thinking" just months ago.

Rugby • 23 Oct 23

Kleyn appeared off the bench against Ireland

Kleyn: There's big animosity between Irish and Scots

Ex-Ireland and Munster lock Jean Kleyn stressed the "animosity" between his former national team and Scotland ahead of their encounter in the Stade de France on Saturday.

Rugby • 05 Oct 23

Jean Kleyn has won five caps since linking up with the South Africa squad

Kleyn and Snyman among seven forwards on Boks bench

Former Ireland international Jean Kleyn has been named in the South Africa squad for Saturday's Rugby World Cup Pool B meeting on Saturday, with the Munster lock among seven forwards on the Springbok bench.

Rugby • 21 Sep 23

Clockwise from top left: Adam Coleman, Jean Kleyn, Charlie Faumuina, Malakai Fekitoa, Adam Coleman and Christian Leali'ifano have played at the World Cup for other countries

Switching up - Six who are swapping sides for the RWC

With changes in eligibility rules coming into force in 2021, it's now easier than ever for players to switch their international allegiances, we take a look at the six players who are poised to play at World Cups for different teams.

Rugby • 04 Sep 23

Jean Kleyn receives a cap from Mark Alexander, South African Rugby Union president

Kleyn says Wales warm-up will be treated like World Cup

South Africa's warm-up fixture against Wales on Saturday should be given the same reverence as any match at the Rugby World Cup, Munster lock Jean Kleyn said.

Rugby • 14 Aug 23

South Africa have confirmed their 33-man Rugby World Cup squad

Kleyn picked for RWC but Boks hit with key injuries

Munster second row Jean Kleyn has been included in South Africa's 33-man squad for the Rugby World Cup, but the defending champions have been dealt a major blow ahead of the tournament in France.

Rugby • 08 Aug 23

Jean Kleyn will win his second cap for South Africa against Argentina on Saturday

Kleyn 'was very close' to Ireland recall - O'Connell

Paul O'Connell says Munster's Jean Kleyn was close to being called up for the Irish Rugby World Cup training squad, before the second row switched international allegiance to play for South Africa.

Rugby • 02 Aug 23

Ireland will face South Africa in Pool B of the Rugby World Cup

Ireland eyeing Springboks in Rugby Championship sprint

As Ireland's players enjoy the last couple of days of their down-week before returning to World Cup training camp on Sunday night, their tournament rivals are getting down to business.

Rugby • 08 Jul 23

Kleyn will make his Springboks debut in Saturday's Rugby Championship opener against Australia

'Dreams come true' - Kleyn ready for his Boks chance

Jean Kleyn says he was as surprised as anyone when he received a call-up to South Africa's squad for the Rugby Championship but is determined to prove his worth against Australia on Saturday.

Rugby • 05 Jul 23

Kleyn to make Springboks debut against Australia

Former Ireland and current Munster lock Jean Kleyn will make his South Africa debut on Saturday after being named in the Springboks team to face Australia in their Castle Lager Rugby Championship opener.

Rugby • 04 Jul 23

Kleyn could face Ireland at the Rugby World Cup later this year

Munster's Kleyn eligible for Springboks selection

Munster second row Jean Kleyn has moved a step closer to a South Africa debut, after World Rugby approved his eligibility to play for his native country.

Rugby • 23 Jun 23

Jean Kleyn during the 2019 Rigby World Cup

Munster's Kleyn set for South Africa call

Former Ireland and current Munster lock Jean Kleyn looks set to be called into the South Africa training squad for a three-week training camp in Pretoria ahead of the 2023 Castle Lager Rugby Championship.

Rugby • 10 Jun 23

Andy Farrell's Ireland record speaks for itself

'It's a squad he trusts' - Toner on Farrell selection

Andy Farrell shouldn't be second-guessed about the make-up of his World Cup training squad, according to Devin Toner.

Rugby • 01 Jun 23

Jean Kleyn: 'We've struggled to get cohesion through the last seven years'

'Calm in chaos' key for Munster

Ahead of their URC final against the Stormers, Jean Kleyn believes Munster have cracked the code after a turbulent seven-year period.

Rugby • 26 May 23

Jean Kleyn: 'There's nothing bonus about this'

Kleyn: Munster 'absolutely not in bonus territory'

Jean Kleyn quickly rejected the suggestion that Munster are in bonus territory and that his side don't exist to "beat Leinster".

Rugby • 24 May 23

'Every time we were just one touch away from getting the win, one score games every time. We're getting so close'

'We can do something special this weekend' - Kleyn

You could sum up each of Munster's last three meetings with Toulouse in four words; nearly but not enough.

Rugby • 20 Jan 23

Peter O'Mahony is among those likely to be rested in the coming weeks

Haley returns but Munster likely to rotate for Ulster

Munster look set to rest some of their Ireland internationals for Sunday's BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with Ulster in Belfast, while there is mixed news on the injury front.

Rugby • 30 Dec 22