RG Snyman facing months on sideline after rupturing ACL again

Munster have confirmed that Springbok star RG Snyman has ruptured his ACL again, just three games into his return from the same injury in 2020.

The 26-year-old second row was sprung from the bench in Munster’s convincing win over the Scarlets at Parc Y Scarlets in Llanelli over the weekend. However the 6 foot 9 inch World Cup winner lasted just 10 minutes before having to be replaced.

Munster have now confirmed that he has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Munster head coach Johann van Graan, who had flagged the significance of the injury following the United Rugby Championship fixture, said: “We are all hugely disappointed for RG.

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“After doing everything that was asked of him and working so hard to get back into great shape everyone feels for him right now.

“While this is a setback, we know RG is young and resilient given everything he has gone through in the last year so there is a strong sense of perspective here.

“We have seen what other world class players have done in this position before and they have come back to reach the successful heights of their careers and I would expect no different for someone of RG’s class and standing.”

Snyman has only just returned from a long-term injury lay-off – including knee surgery and skin grafts after the infamous Munster fire pit incident.

Prior to his three cameos in this season’s inaugural URC, the Springboks forward hadn’t appeared for Munster since his debut in 2020, which lasted only seven minutes before he came down hard from a lineout, tearing his ACL.

It’s a cruel blow for the South African, who Munster were delighted to see back on the field of play.

“When we recruited RG we saw something in him that can make a big difference to our team and specifically to our group,” Van Graan said recently. “When you look at players you don’t look only at what they can do on the pitch but also off the pitch. In my view he’s a phenomenal rugby player and an incredible human being so we missed those two things last season, the fact that we couldn’t have him.”