Returning Jean Kleyn is 'like a new signing' for Munster

Munster are hopeful that both Jean Kleyn and Tom Ahern will be fit for the start of the new BKT United Rugby Championship season later this month.

Kleyn has been sidelined since late November due to a complicated eye injury, while Ahern missed the URC play-offs due to ankle surgery which also saw him miss out on a place on Ireland's summer tour of South Africa.

Both players are now in the final stages of their rehab, and assistant coach Mike Prendergast has suggested they could be in contention for the province’s season-opener at home to Connacht on Saturday 21 September.

"As of now we're not 100% sure," the attack coach said.

"They're in the process of being back out on the pitch, more loading in terms of their training etc. They're on the right road, the goal would be hopefully the first game but nothing is guaranteed.

"They are motoring well at the moment. It would be great to have them back."

Kleyn’s absence was certainly felt last season, particularly in the middle third of the season where the province were dealing with a lengthy injury crisis.

The second row came into last season in the form of his life, fresh off winning a World Cup with the Springboks, but suffered an eye injury in his first game back against Leinster, which ultimately ruled him out for the rest of the season.

While the lock also underwent surgery on an existing knee issue during that period, there had been rumours in April that the eye injury was potentially career-threatening, but Prendergast (below) says they were always positive he would return to the province this summer.

"We were pretty confident that he was going to come back but it was just going to take time and unfortunately, he missed the majority of last season. I think we got one game