Graham Rowntree says it is a big relief to get second row Jean Kleyn tied down to a new contract.

The province confirmed a new two-year deal for the 30-year-old yesterday, which will ensure their 2022/23 Player of the Year remains in Limerick until the summer of 2026 at least.

There had been shades of doubt around the former Ireland international's future since the summer, when his call-up for South Africa meant he was no longer Irish-qualified. Kleyn want on to make his debut for the Springboks in July before winning the World Cup with his native country in October.

The Munster head coach admitted earlier this month that Kleyn's new status as an NIQ (non-Irish qualified) player created a "challenging situation" for the province, while there was reported interest in the second row from France, with Lyon named as potential suitors.

Yesterday's contract announcement put those rumours to bed however, and Rowntree says he is "delighted" to be able to keep his World Cup winner.

"It's good business for us," the Munster coach told RTE Sport.

"Player of the Year, played a lot of minutes for us. I'm delighted with that. He's always been clear in his love for Limerick, and playing for the club. There was a few people sniffing around him, I'm just delighted we got it over the line."

While Munster will keep Kleyn, they've confirmed the expected news that their other Springbok World Cup-winning lock RG Snyman (below) will depart at the end of this season.

Snyman's three and a half years so far in Ireland have been blighted by injury, with back-to-back cruciate ligament injuries seeing him play just 10 times for the province, while he is currently recovering from surgery on his shoulder/chest, which is likely to keep him out until March.

However, Rowntree says the 28-year-old will still have a major role to play in the final third of their season.

"He's been great around our group, he's in our leadership group, he's had his injury woes and has been through some dark times, for him to be able to lift a trophy at the end of last season with his mates was fantastic, and I wish him all the best.

"He's got unfinished business with us. We're probably not going to be able to see him until March, and planning for worst-case scenario I think that'll be March.

"He still has a big role to play with us, I wish him all the best wherever he decides to go, but he's got a big job to do for us before then" he added.

Munster will once again be without back row pair Peter O'Mahony and Jack O'Donoghue due to injury, but the province say their respective shoulder and ankle injuries are not long term, with Rowntree hopeful O'Mahony, in particular, could return for one of their Champions Cup games against either Bayonne or Exeter Chiefs in December.

In some more good news, new signing Oli Jager (below) could make his debut in Friday night's meeting with Glasgow Warriors at Musgrave Park.

The Irish tighthead prop, who completed his move from the Crusaders last week, took a full part in training this afternoon in Limerick.

"He's huge!," Rowntree laughed, when asked for his early impressions of the five-time Super Rugby winner.

"He's trained, he didn't do a lot of training at the back-end of last week, he only flew in on Thursday, he's done training and some scrum today. He's looking good, I think he's going to fit in nicely. He's come from a very good environment, and he's a good rugby player with rugby nous, alongside a big set-piece presence.

"I'm quite happy with the squad I've got, particularly the coaching group that I've got. I back us to get the best out of a real crop of young talent coming through the club which I want to develop, I want to bring new talent coming through.

"I'm particularly happy with the addition of Oli, and to get him now was good business by the club. It's going to bolster our resources there."

Watch Connacht v Leinster in the URC on Saturday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on www.rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra