Jean Kleyn sets his sights on firing up Gloucester next season

By Grant Shub

Jean Kleyn, who spent a decade at Munster, has put pen to paper on a three-year contract with Gloucester.

The Cherry and Whites, led by Director of Rugby George Skivington, snapped up the Springbok World Cup-winning lock, who also holds the distinction of having represented Ireland.

The 32-year-old, who played off the bench against New Zealand in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, has endured a whirlwind time of late.

Kleyn has been in and out of hospital, having suffering a bicep tear against Ulster in the United Rugby Championship towards the end of May.

On the mend

He underwent surgery on June 6, but five weeks later it failed and he had to undergo repeat surgery.

“It’s been a little bit backwards and forwards but I’m on the mend,” Kleyn told The Rugby Paper.

“All going well, I should be back in mid-August,” he said ahead of his debut in the Gallagher Premiership.

Kleyn, who became a stalwart for Munster and played for Ireland at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, said that a motivating factor in swapping Ireland for England was a need for a change of scenery.

“10 years is a pretty long time at Munster and I wanted one last adventure before I finished up,” said Kleyn.

“I’m coming to the sunset of my career so my wife and I wanted to try something new.”

Hard man: Jean Kleyn leading the attack for Munster
PICTURES: Getty Images

One last hurrah

Having moved to Gloucester with their two young children, the Kleyns are living near the Cotswolds.

For the towering lock, the move to Gloucester, who underachieved under Skivington, below, last season and finished in eighth place on the Gallagher Premiership table, it’s one last hurrah before the inevitable hanging up of the boots.

“I’m looking forward to making an impact, bettering the team and doing as much as I can to bring the team up,” said Kleyn, who sees himself retiring in the UK.

On an international front, Kleyn holds the distinction of having played for Ireland and South Africa.

He was born in Johannesburg and grew up supporting the Lions but doesn’t regret having turned out for his adopted nation.

“Everyone wants to play at the highest level and my opportunity to play Tests came through Ireland,” said Kleyn, who was eliminated with Ireland at the 2019 World Cup.

Passion

Kleyn remembers watching that year’s Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and England on the plane coming back from a South African holiday post-engagement.

It proved to be the end of his Ireland career.

Joe Schmidt departed as coach and Kleyn didn’t fit into Andy Farrell’s plans.

“It didn’t bother me too much because I wasn’t really loving rugby back then,” said Kleyn.

“There was a lot of media criticism from the Irish press which made me fall out of love with the game.”

Kleyn has since reignited his passion for rugby and making his mark at club level for Gloucester and earning a recall for his country is what matters most ahead of next year’s showpiece event.