It was the news that took the rugby world by surprise and the players of Munster and Leinster were no different when they heard of RG Snyman's switch between the teams.
The Irish Times broke the story last week and the move for the two-time World Cup winner, currently sidelined with a shoulder / chest injury, was confirmed by the Blues on Tuesday.
"Probably like most people, pretty shocked when I heard it, just because those kind of moves don’t happen too often, especially whatever about Leinster to Munster, Munster to Leinster in particular," Ireland and Leinster back row Jack Conan told RTÉ Sport.
"Obviously, JJ [Jason Jenkins] recently, but other than that there hasn’t been a whole lot but none that spring to mind.
"A bit shocked, the lads [management] are very good at keeping their cards close to their chest upstairs and I don’t think any of the lads had an inkling that was going on.
"It’s a great bit of business, a fantastic player, a proven winner, Jacques [Nienaber, Leinster senior coach and Springboks World Cup-winning coach] knows him very well from South Africa.
"It will be great to have him here next year but there’s a lot of rugby between now and then.
"Hopefully he can get back on the pitch for Munster in the next couple of months. I wish him the best in his recovery."
The sentiment was similar in Munster.
Head coach Graham Rowntree admitted surprise but conceded Munster offered no deal to the 28-year-old, who had played just 10 times for the province since joining in 2020.
Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey said: "I was surprised. Not [on Tuesday], obviously, because of all the rumours that had gone around last week.
"At first there was a bit of surprise but then, I suppose, you've got to see the human side of it as well.
"Him and his wife had settled well here in Ireland and, in fairness, he's happy out here.
"Ah, [there’s a] tiny bit [slagging] but I suppose RG is on a separate programme at the minute with the rehab so you don't see too much of him, he's not in and around the squad training and stuff like that.
"He's doing his own thing and getting back on the field so hopefully he can have a big impact for the rest of the season with us and I think that's his goal at the minute, and that's all he's focused on.
"I know he said that in his statement yesterday, he's focused on finishing the season on a high, so that's his goal and we'll be happy to send him off well, hopefully."
The news broke just a few days out from the traditional Christmas derby at Thomond Park with the champions welcoming league leaders Leinster for a URC clash.
Will the news add some spice to the festive derby?
"Does it need more spice than it already has? I don't think it does, really. I don't think that will be carried onto the pitch at all," added Casey.
"For the week to be announced as well, he timed it well to announce it. But it won't add any more spice than there already is, I don't think."
Conan, who started all three Lions Tests in 2021, said: "It’s always a bit of a cauldron when you go down there and the fans are so loud.
"Look, that might add an extra layer of volume to the whole thing but when you are in the mix it’s not something you are thinking of too much."
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch Munster v Leinster in the BKT United Rugby Championship on 26 December from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1, and follow a live blog on www.rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
