Jean Kleyn

Jean Kleyn (born (1993-08-26)26 August 1993) is a South African professional rugby union player, currently playing for Irish Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup side Munster and for the Ireland national team. Kleyn was born and grew up in South Africa,[1] and qualified for Ireland through residency. His regular position is lock.

Jean Kleyn
Date of birth (1993-08-26) 26 August 1993
Place of birthLinden, South Africa
Height2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Weight121 kg (19.1 st; 267 lb)
SchoolHoërskool Linden
UniversityUniversity of Stellenbosch
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Munster
Youth career
2012–2014 Western Province
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2016 Western Province 24 (5)
2014–2016 Stormers 18 (0)
2016–present Munster 70 (45)
Correct as of 12 January 2020
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019– Ireland 5 (0)
Correct as of 12 October 2019

Youth rugby

Kleyn first played provincial rugby for the Western Province U19s during the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship, also being promoted to the Western Province U21 side in the same season, as well as in 2013. He picked up two winner's medals, with Western Province ending both the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship and 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship seasons as champions. Despite playing regularly for the senior side in 2014, he made a further three appearances in the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship.

Western Province / Stormers

Despite being named in the 2013 and 2014 Vodacom Cup squads, Kleyn never made an appearance, suffering a knee injury in 2013[2] and an ankle injury in 2014.[3]

He was included in the Stormers squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season.[4] Despite missing the early part of the season with his ankle injury, Kleyn recovered to be named in the starting line-up for their match against the Bulls in Pretoria,[5] but ended on the losing side as the home team won 28–12.[6] A further three appearances off the bench followed in May 2014. In the second half of 2014, Kleyn was a key player for Western Province in the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division, starting ten matches during the season. The final two of his starts came in their 31–23 semi-final victory over the Blue Bulls[7] and the final, in which Kleyn played the entire 80 minutes, helping his side to a 19–16 victory over the Golden Lions[8] to win his first senior trophy.

Kleyn established himself as a regular in the Stormers squad during the 2015 Super Rugby season, appearing in thirteen of their seventeen matches, including five starts. He helped the Stormers finish top of the South African Conference,[9] and also played in their qualifier against the Brumbies, a match won by the Australian visitors to eliminate the Stormers from the competition.[10] He once again was a key player for a Western Province team attempting to retain their Currie Cup title in the 2015 competition, playing in all twelve matches, of which he started eleven.[11] The team finished third on the log[12] and Kleyn started their 23–18 victory over the Blue Bulls in the semi-final[13] and the final, where his side could not emulate their 2014 result, losing 24–32 to the Golden Lions.[14]

Kleyn suffered an arm injury in a warm-up match against the Jaguares prior to the 2016 Super Rugby season, which ruled him out of the start of the competition.[15] During the international break, Kleyn started two matches for Western Province in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series, the first of those being a match against the Leopards during which Kleyn scored his first try in senior rugby, scoring ten minutes from time to help his side to a 43–34 victory.[16] He was included in the Stormers touring squad for their trip to Australia to face the Rebels and the Western Force,[17] but failed to be included in their matchday squad. He eventually made his only appearance of the season in their 52–24 victory over the Southern Kings in their final match of the regular season.[18]

Munster

Kleyn secured an early release from his contract with Western Province in July 2016,[19] leaving South Africa to join Irish Pro14 side Munster on a three-year contract prior to the 2016–17 Pro12 season.[20][21] On 3 September 2016, Kleyn made his competitive debut for Munster when he came on as a substitute against Scarlets in the sides opening 2016–17 Pro12 fixture.[22] On 17 September 2016, Kleyn scored his first try for Munster in their 20–16 away win against Welsh side Dragons in Rodney Parade. The match was also his first start for the province.[23] On 17 February 2017, it was announced that Kleyn had been ruled out for 8–10 weeks due to a neck injury. The injury was sustained during the Pro14 fixture against Dragons on 10 February.[24]

On 1 September 2017, in what was his return to competitive action following the aforementioned neck injury, Kleyn scored two tries in Munster's win against Benetton in Round 1 of the 2017–18 Pro14.[25] Kleyn scored a try and won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 21–16 win against Ospreys on 16 September 2017.[26] Kleyn was nominated for the 2018 Munster Rugby Player of the Year award in April 2018.[27] He signed a three-year contract extension with Munster in September 2018, a deal that will see Kleyn remain with the province until at least June 2022.[28] Kleyn was ruled out for six weeks after undergoing surgery for a thumb injury in November 2018.[29] He returned from the injury in Munster's Pro14 fixture against Ulster on 21 December 2018.[30] Kleyn earned his 50th cap for Munster in their 26–17 win against Leinster on 29 December 2018.[31]

Ireland

Kleyn qualified through residency to play for Ireland on 8 August 2019,[32] and was selected in Joe Schmidt's 44–man training squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[33] He made his debut for Ireland in their 2019 Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Italy on 10 August 2019, starting in the 29–10 win,[34] and was selected in the 31-man Ireland squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[35]

Statistics

International analysis by opposition
Against Played Won Lost Drawn Tries Points % Won
 England101000
 Italy110000100
 Russia110000100
 Samoa110000100
 Wales110000100
Total54100080

Correct as of 12 October 2019[36]

References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Jean Kleyn". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. "The Stormers : Jean Kleyn". The Stormers. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  3. "Stormers plagued by injuries again as Bulls loom". Business Day BDlive. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  4. "Contracted players kick-off preparations". The Stormers. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  5. "Burger to lead young DHL Stormers in Pretoria" (Press release). Stormers. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Bulls 28-12 DHL Stormers". South African Rugby Union. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 31-23 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 19-16 Xerox Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  9. "SA Rugby Log – 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Stormers 19-39 Brumbies". South African Rugby Union. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  11. "SA Rugby Squad – DHL Western Province : 2015 Absa Currie Cup Premier Division". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  12. "SA Rugby Log – 2015 Absa Currie Cup Premier Division". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  13. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 18-23 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  14. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Xerox Golden Lions 32-24 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  15. "DHL Stormers injury report – May 2" (Press release). Stormers. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  16. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards 34-43 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 4 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  17. "DHL Stormers touring squad announced" (Press release). Stormers. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  18. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Stormers 52-24 Southern Kings". South African Rugby Union. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  19. "WP se Jean Kleyn op pad Munster toe". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 20 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  20. "SA players head overseas after Super Rugby". SuperSport. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  21. "Kleyn Signs With Munster" (Press release). Munster Rugby. 25 July 2016. Archived from the original on 25 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  22. "Gutsy Win For Munster". Munster Rugby. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  23. "Munster Grind Out The Win In Wales". Munster Rugby. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  24. "Player Update". Munster Rugby. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  25. "Munster Off to Flying Start". Munster Rugby. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  26. "Gutsy Win in Swansea". Munster Rugby. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  27. "Munster Rugby Player Of The Year Nominees". Munster Rugby. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  28. "Jean Kleyn Commits To Munster". Munster Rugby. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  29. "Squad Update | Pre Zebre". Munster Rugby. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  30. "Report | Losing Bonus Point In Belfast". Munster Rugby. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  31. "Report | Munster Beat Leinster At Thomond". Munster Rugby. 29 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  32. "Kleyn 'behind the eight ball' as he bids to force his way into Schmidt's plans". The42. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  33. "Uncapped Kleyn and Haley included in Ireland's World Cup training squad". The42. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  34. "Carbery injury sucks the air out of Ireland's win over makeshift Italy". The42. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  35. "Ireland's Rugby World Cup Squad Named". IRFU. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  36. Jean Kleyn, ESPN Scrum, 3 October 2019
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