JEAN KLEYN ON HIS PASSION FOR HIS MUNSTER FAMILY
Kleyn loving Limerick life and devotion to his Munster ‘family’
SOUTH AFRICAN import Jean Kleyn is happily immersed in the rhythms of life in Limerick. Halfway through his threeyear Munster deal and on track to become Ireland-eligible in 2019, he is regularly seen walking his beagles along the Shannon riverbank at the university, soaking in the beautiful views.
However, the 24-year-old lock hasn’t entirely forgotten his homeland, endorsing a recent tweet posted by teammate CJ Stander in support of the October 30 Black Monday protest highlighting the increasing scourge of farm murders where it is alleged white farmers are almost five times more likely to be murdered than someone from the general South African population.
It’s a subject that has Kleyn greatly exercised, given his family’s roots in the agri-industry and his own long-term ambition to go into wild game farming. ‘I know a lot of guys in white farming, families of farmers and stuff. My grandfather used to be a farmer before he sold it off,’ he explained.
‘It’s a blight facing our country terribly, needless killing of farmers. It has got to the point where something needs to be done about it. Honestly, atrocious things are happening.
‘It’s just hate crimes being committed. Honestly, I could give you details that are horrendous. Do a little bit of research and see for yourself. Things happening over there shouldn’t be happening anywhere in the world.
‘Black Monday was about everyone standing up in solidarity against attacks on farmers. It indirectly affects me through my family and was just something that needed to be said,’ he continued, adding how farming wild game is a post-rugby pursuit he would like to explore given his current interest in hunting deer with friends during summer trips home.
Today, Tigers are in Kleyn’s crosshairs for the second time in eight days. Munster’s pack refused to take a backward step in Limerick last weekend and the ambition is similar today in Leicester.
Backing up initial good work from Thomond Park was something that eluded Kleyn and Co last December when the same teams met twice in quick succession, but there is optimism 2016’s away-day reverse won’t be repeated, that Munster’s pack can this evening live with the vulnerability of an extremely high penalty concession rate, 34 in three European outings this term.
‘It’s a thing where you have to read the situation,’ explained Kleyn about his team’s aggressive approach in collisions. ‘Sometimes you get a little bit more leeway, sometimes you get a little bit less.
‘In my position especially, you have to push the boundaries as far as you can. That is what every team tries to do, they try to live as close to the edge as they possibly can while staying within the rules and playing the game fairly.
‘That is something we are trying to do. That might be a contributing factor to our penalty count, that we are trying to play as good a game as possible while living as close as possible to that edge… it’s going to be a real tough one at Welford Road.
‘We’re very conscious about our penalty count in the last few weeks. We have seen a little bit of a slump towards the end of the second half [of games], the way we lose concentration a little bit, but we actually do pretty well in terms of penalty count until then. We need to start sharpening up our concentration, especially the last 20 minutes. Just work on our discipline, really not let the other team back in.’
There is no exact science in ensuring an overseas recruit becomes part of the furniture at an Irish province. However, no-nonsense Kleyn, revelling in the Champions Cup’s step-up in physicality, speed, tempo and execution, appears to have the perfect combination of talent, character and good human nature to become a lasting success at Munster following an unorthodox route to the pro ranks in South Africa.
Having only played recreationally as a teen, he was six months into a mechanical engineering course at Stellenbosch University when pro rugby became a possibility, selection for Western Province’s Under 19s quickly followed by inclusion in their U21s, which got his foot in the door of the paid ranks.
His tuition soon fell by the wayside, the South African system not as accommodating as Ireland’s in terms of studying alongside playing, but subsequent Super Rugby exposure for the Stormers became the catalyst for his summer 2016 move to Limerick.
‘It didn’t need much selling. Munster sells itself. Everyone knows about Munster. It’s one of the big clubs in the world and an opportunity I couldn’t say no to. The prospect of working with Rassie Erasmus was a big selling point as well. Rassie Erasmus back home is a massive name and internationally he is a massive name now.
‘If there was one thing I could change it would be the fact I was injured so much. I would have loved to have played a little more rugby last season, but so far it has been a spectacular experience and I’d like to stay on as long as I can. It’s a wonderful place.’
What has made Kleyn, the Roger Federer fan with a liking for watching Ozark on Netflix and listening to Magic Dragons, fit in so seamlessly despite his youth?
‘It’s just down to work ethic. That can be said for anyone joining any club anywhere in the world. I believe if your work ethic is right, then you will fit in, you will earn the respect of your teammates.
‘I have always said hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard, so it’s being as hard-working as you possibly can and really buying into the culture. With Munster you have a massive culture, not just in the workplace but in the community as well. It’s a real family feeling.
‘I don’t think you join a club when you come to Munster, you join a family. It’s a really inspiring thing. I always say to people back home we think we are passionate about rugby in South Africa, but we have no idea what passion is.
‘My parents were at their first Munster match last season, the quarter-final against Toulouse. They honestly couldn’t believe things like the quiet and respect for the kicker and just the passion in every other aspect of the match. It’s an amazing place. Really buying into the culture is what earns you a spot and then the hard work on the field.’
No wonder Limerick life is to his liking.