South African lock Jean Kleyn has experienced a dramatic turnaround in his rugby career, finding himself on the verge of the Rugby World Cup final. While his chances of making the starting lineup for the crucial match are uncertain, Kleyn, as a member of the 33-man squad, reflects on the astonishing twist of fate that brought him to this stage.
Kleyn’s journey has been significantly impacted by World Rugby’s revised eligibility rules. Born in Johannesburg, he initially played for the Stormers in Super Rugby before making the move from South Africa to join Irish club Munster in mid-2016. After three years, Kleyn became eligible to play for Ireland under rugby’s residency rules, eventually earning selection for the World Cup in Japan. He participated in three warm-up tests and two World Cup matches for Ireland. However, after this initial involvement, he was not chosen for further international duty.
In 2021, a pivotal rule change by World Rugby permitted test-capped players to represent a second national team if they met specific criteria. This included a three-year period of inactivity with their original country and successful participation in a league such as the United Rugby Championship. Kleyn’s successful season with Munster in this competition propelled him into contention for the South African national team.
Reflecting on this transformative period in his career, Kleyn remarked, “I think I’ve caught myself thinking about it probably too often.” He described the surreal experience of representing the Springboks in the Rugby Championship in June and the unexpected turn of events that brought him to the brink of a Rugby World Cup final. “It’s a strange one because if you asked me six months ago if I had at all thought that I had any chance of being here at a World Cup final and playing for the Springboks, I would have told you, ‘You’re absolutely insane.'”
He continued, “I’ll probably wake up when it’s all said and done, and think ‘Was that a dream or did that actually happen?’”
Kleyn’s journey has been nothing short of incredible, and he expressed his gratitude for being part of a special group. He noted, “It’s been a fantastic journey for me. It’s been brilliant to have been part of the squad. To be honest, it’s one of the best groups of players that I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing with, working with, and knowing. From players to staff to the medical team to the coaches, they’re all great people and they put in the hard work and they’re passionate about the game and passionate about South Africa. It’s been an absolute pleasure being a part of it.”
He humorously acknowledged that he might be seen as the first Irishman to reach a Rugby World Cup final. Kleyn was also pleasantly surprised by the positive reaction to his decision to play for the Springboks, considering his prior association with the Irish media. He said, “I figured there would be a few negative articles, but it was really positive, and I was really happy about that. It’s made it a lot easier for me.”
Jean Kleyn’s extraordinary rugby journey serves as a testament to the unpredictability and remarkable opportunities that the sport can offer.
