Munster fight to keep Jean Kleyn amid interest from France

Munster will have Jean Kleyn available for their big BKT United Rugby Championship Interpro against Leinster on 26 November, while head coach Graham Rowntree says the province will do everything they can to keep the World Cup winner at the province next season.

Kleyn is back in Limerick after a trophy tour of South Africa following their World Cup triumph, with attention now turning to the 30-year-old's future.

The second row's current contract expires at the end of the season, but his situation has become complicated since his transfer back to his native South Africa for Test rugby, which has seen him now designated as a non-Irish qualified (NIQ) player.

With Kleyn now no longer eligible for Ireland, it potentially impacts Munster's ability to keep him at the province beyond next summer, with speculation in recent days he's a target for French side Lyon.

"I'd say that last week in May after the final - or it may have been early June - that Jean Kleyn committed himself to South Africa he became an NIQ, a non-Irish qualified player," Rowntree said.

"He knew, we knew, all parties knew, that it was going to be challenging keeping hold on him but those contract negotiations are ongoing and I can’t really comment any more on them.

"Of course [we'd like to keep him], of course, he was so important for us last season, look at the minutes he played.

"We knew it was going to be a challenging situation but hopefully we will get a bit more clarity on that soon enough, but it would be wrong for me to comment any more on it."

The Springbok has reported back to province and will now be given a couple of weeks off to rest following the tournament, and Rowntree (above) says he will be back training on 20 November, ahead of the trip to face