Graham Rowntree: RG Snyman's Leinster move was a 'huge surprise'

Graham Rowntree admits it came as a "huge surprise" to learn of RG Snyman's move to Leinster, but says he has no doubt of the player's commitment to Munster between now and the end of the season.

The South African lock will swap red for blue next season in making the move to Leinster, with Leo Cullen's side swooping in to sign him on a one year deal, in one of the biggest cross-province transfers Irish rugby has seen.

Munster had hoped to keep the Springbok lock, but those hopes were effectively dashed when Jean Kleyn became non-Irish qualified after representing South Africa in the summer, with Munster not in a position to re-sign two NIQ second rows.

Last month it was confirmed that Snyman would be leaving Munster at the end of the season, and the Munster coach says the 28-year-old's switch up the M7 came out of the blue.

"Yeah, I'm not going to lie, a huge surprise," the Munster head coach said.

"Obviously I wasn't fully aware of where he was going, I knew there was chat of him going to Bath to see my old mate and his former coach Johann [Van Graan]. There was chat of him going back to South Africa, but I was surprised [he went to Leinster], yeah."

It's the second time in just under two years that Leinster have picked up a South African lock from their rivals, with the province also bringing Jason Jenkins to the RDS following his season with Munster in 2021/22.

Snyman has played just 10 times since joining Munster in the summer of 2020 due to two significant knee injuries, while he's currently sidelined until March as he recovers from surgery on his chest/shoulder.

However, Rowntree (above) says he expects the double-World Cup winner to play a significant part for the province later in the season.

"It's a business, this, isn't