RG Snyman, destined for Leinster, is expertly straddling a delicate situation. After their fruitful tour to South Africa, which saw Munster strengthening their position in the United Rugby Championship (URC) by achieving consecutive wins with bonus points, Snyman is confronted with his impending parting. Nonetheless, he remains true to the promises he’d made to Munster.
Snyman, a member of the South African team that won the World Cup, is devoted to securing another URC league championship. Along the way, he is fully prepared to sabotage the chances of the team he’ll join in the summer. He is aware of this, and so is Munster’s supporters, who have been very welcoming towards the 6’9” Springbok lock.
“The situation is as it is,” says Snyman. “I anticipated things to progress a certain way. However, everyone has been extraordinarily kind and professional about it.”
After recovering from an injury, Snyman has returned to play five games for Munster, scoring three tries. Curiously, Snyman hasn’t played in a derby match since his debut at the Aviva Stadium in August 2020, where he was first injured, despite Munster’s imminent game against Connacht at Thomond Park.
Snyman joined Munster in the summer of 2020, following his participation in every match of South Africa’s victorious 2019 World Cup endeavour. He brought with him an athletic prowess, strong ball handling and offload abilities, and a commanding presence in the lineout.
Unfortunately, a knee injury incurred at the Aviva put him out of action until the following year, and a mishap at a Munster barbecue led to a skin graft and another period of rest. More misfortune followed with a chest/shoulder injury acquired at the World Cup in France and ensuing surgery, making Snyman appreciate his long-awaited return to the field.
Now, having played 15 matches for Munster in nearly four years, Snyman is exceptionally eager for the final row of matches.
“He seems to be fuelled by a strong desire,” he confesses. “It is particularly motivating after the previous season’s success. Doing back-to-back victories in the URC would be monumental. I am trying to offer as much as I can to Munster, which will be my final contribution.
“From day one of my involvement here, I have shown utter commitment. I just didn’t get the opportunity before. Now, I do have one and am trying to compensate for all the opportunities I’ve previously missed.”
The decision of Munster to select Jean Kleyn, the Springbok, when faced with two non-Irish qualified lock options is insightful. Both locks had won the 2023 World Cup representing South Africa. It was Snyman, for varying reasons, who ended up signing with Munster’s fiercest competitors.
However, there isn’t any ill-feeling from either party. Defence coach Denis Leamy believes that his expertise, gained from winning the World Cup, could be pivotal in Munster defending their URC title.
“He has a calming effect,” according to Leamy. “He’s really an underappreciated gem in the team. He consistently has a level head. With immense experience, he faces no issues, makes no complaints, simply gets the work done.
“He is wholly enjoyable to coach and be around. He truly embodies the spirit of Munster and holds the record for the most appearances in the team. Over time, he has served Munster brilliantly and continues to have a profound impact on games, despite all the time that has passed.”
Snyman declares that he’s feeling fine physically, and with every game, he’s regaining strength. In April, he took a fortnight’s break due to an illness. The mental aspect of rejoining the team and preparing for the end of the season is also refreshing. If they reach the URC finals on June 22nd, Munster possibly has six games left to play.
“My fitness keeps improving each week, which feels amazing,” he revealed. “It really feels good to play with my teammates again. With a series of successful games, and our time in South Africa, we learned a lot and drew upon our experiences from last year spent on the South African soil.”
“That experience was crucial in propelling our previous season. We strived to recreate something akin this season, which I believe we quite successfully achieved. The fortnight we spent there was highly beneficial in terms of team bonding. I strongly feel that we derived a significant amount of confidence from that incident.”