- Jack O’Donoghue is top turnover king after round two
- ‘Saints’ relegated, Newcastle West can yet lift the MJL1 title
- AIL defeats for Shannon, ‘Munsters’, Bruff and Thomond
- Terrific wins for UL Bohemian and Old Crescent tonight in AIL2A
- Bonus point win as Munster prove too strong for the Southern Kings in Cork
- Kings will need to be in regal form to deprive Munster of home victory
- Important games for Limerick clubs as the AIL resumes action this week-end
- Tension mounts as local clubs feature in second last fence of Munster Junior League 1
- Impressive win for Clonmel on UL pitch keeps them on title target
- Will Joe Schmidt ring the changes for the Scottish game?
- Cancellations a-plenty as Munster Junior Cup gathers momentum
- Henshaw at full-back not really a gamble as Ireland name their team
- Ian excited about exploring new horizons as he plans two moves
- Nine local clubs in Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup action this week-end
- UL Bohemian and Thomond advance in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup
- Abbeyfeale lift the Transfield Cup for the first time since 1977
- Young Munster facing battle to avoid the drop
- Munster fight hard for victory in Rodney Parade
- Bonus point for Garryowen as Shannon fail to build on recent form
- AIL: Shannon win, Young Munster and Garryowen lose today in 1A
- AIL wins tonight for Old Crescent in 2A and Thomond in 2C
- John Ryan for Archer the only change on the Munster team
- Key Euro games for referees Neville, Clancy, Brace and Lacey
- Frank Quinn’s review of the final pools games of Heineken Cup
- Decent Munster representation on Ireland Six Nations squad
- English clubs’ wretched record at Thomond Park: 21 defeats, 2 wins
- A Newcastle view as their side fails to get winning bonus point
- Is the Transfield Cup final to take place in the Markets Field?
- Defeat for Richmond today dents their junior league title hopes
- Brave Garryowen’s late strike gives them ticket to Bateman decider
- Munster march on towards another home Heineken Cup quarter final
- Munster and Gloucester announce their teams for to-morrow night’s game
- All to play for as Munster Junior League division one hots up
- Garryowen keen to avoid their third successive cup defeat
- Munster’s Ian Keatley seems set to join Benetton Treviso
- Leinster are still the favourites to retain the Champions Cup
- Thomond and Bruff advance in cup: Newcastle drop league points
- Munster superb as they hold on for bonus point victory
- Munster’s away form will again be tested in the Showgrounds
- Munster Senior Cup retains its magic as Garryowen seek more glory
- Leinster’s winger James Lowe is suspended for two weeks
- Local referees are included in Guinness PRO14 week-end fixtures list
- St Mary’s, Thomond, Newcastle West, Bruff in league and cup action
- Brilliant Earls try seals victory over Leinster
- Young Munster romp home with comfortable Charity Cup win
- 12 changes as Munster prepare for another Thomond Park epic
- Frank Murphy to referee Munster v Leinster PRO14 fixture
- Full house for Munster and Leinster showdown at Thomond Park
- Christmas 2018 marks a record year for Limerick Rugby website
- Ulster happy with home win while Munster settle for single point
Jean Kleyn looks forward to his first visit to the Showgrounds
- Updated: 29/12/2016

MUNSTER’S South African second-row Jean Kleyn (pronounced Klane) is a man to look up to. Standing at 2.03m and weighing in at 120kg he is playing his part in filling the void created by the retirement of Paul O’Connell and this week he spoke about the standard of the PRO12, his reasons for coming to Ireland and how he has made the transition from student life in Cape Town to residing in Limerick’s Castletroy.
“When Rassie rang me and spoke about joining him at Munster I was immediately excited about the opportunity. I had not known him too well but worked with him for a while with the Stormers but I certainly knew about Munster. It was an amazing opportunity to work with him. I spent the last five years as a student in Cape Town and now I find myself in this great Munster set-up which is fantastic. When I had committed myself to come here one of the first guys to call me was CJ Stander and he filled me in with what I could expect. Rugby here is of a very high standard and is world class. I would compare it to playing against New Zealand teams, very competitive, very fast and very skilful.”
So how is he fitting in with the Irish lifestyle: “Everybody here is so friendly, even when you are driving on the road they are courteous which is very different from South Africa. I suppose it helps to have a few South Africans in the squad and some of us converse in our traditional Afrikaan. Even during some of the games, when the going is tough, I click into the Afrikaan language with words of encouragement for Jaco and CJ.”
Jean was born and reared in Johannesburg and spent the first 18 years of his life there. He then went to University to study engineering and spent the last five years enjoying the student life. It was through his agent that Jean took up the offer from Munster and according to himself he is “loving it.”
When South African school Springs High School visited Limerick last October Jean and Jaco Taute came to see them play Thomond under 18s in Fitzgerald Park. It was a gesture that was much appreciated by both camps: “I played a good couple of games against Springs during my high school days, we gave them a couple, they gave us a couple so I am very much acquainted with them.”
Asked about Saturday’s game against Connacht, Jean Kleyn said that he knows very little about the Showgrounds but his side is expecting another very tough game: “Derby games like these always lift the crowds and the players but we are very much looking forward to the challenge.”
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