Munster's Jean Kleyn set for South Africa call

Former Ireland and current Munster lock Jean Kleyn looks set to be called into the South Africa training squad for a three-week training camp in Pretoria ahead of the 2023 Castle Lager Rugby Championship.

A total of 40 players have been named in the squad, which departs Sunday, with Kleyn set to join as the 41st member pending the outcome of an application filed by SA Rugby regarding the former his eligibility with a decision expected soon.

Jacques Nienaber, who will join Leinster's coaching staff at the conclusion of the World Cup in France, will see his side participate in a shortened Rugby Championship campaign with games against Australia [8 July], New Zealand [15 July] and Argentina [29 July] before they ramp up preparations for their defence of the Webb Elliss Cup with their Pool B clash with Ireland just over three months away.

If Kleyn, pending clearance, was to impress, he could be set for his second World Cup with two different nations having featured in the 2019 tournament for Ireland under Joe Schmidt.

He played five times in all for Ireland after becoming qualified through the residency rule.

That move resulted in much scrutiny for the player during the Japan tournament given that he was parachuted in at the expense of Devin Toner, something that didn't go unnoticed by the player.

"There was a time around the World Cup that I was getting a fair bit of backlash around my inclusion in the squad, which obviously was not really in my hands or my choice at all," he said.

"Nonetheless, I was still delighted to be there and it was an incredible honour."

Kleyn’s Munster team-mate RG Snyman is also named amongst the lock selections with Ulster’s Duane Vermeulen amongst the forwards.