Munster will have Jean Kleyn available for their big BKT United Rugby Championship Interpro against Leinster on 26 November, while head coach Graham Rowntree says the province will do everything they can to keep the World Cup winner at the province next season.

Kleyn is back in Limerick after a trophy tour of South Africa following their World Cup triumph, with attention now turning to the 30-year-old's future.

The second row's current contract expires at the end of the season, but his situation has become complicated since his transfer back to his native South Africa for Test rugby, which has seen him now designated as a non-Irish qualified (NIQ) player.

With Kleyn now no longer eligible for Ireland, it potentially impacts Munster's ability to keep him at the province beyond next summer, with speculation in recent days he's a target for French side Lyon.

"I'd say that last week in May after the final - or it may have been early June - that Jean Kleyn committed himself to South Africa he became an NIQ, a non-Irish qualified player," Rowntree said.

"He knew, we knew, all parties knew, that it was going to be challenging keeping hold on him but those contract negotiations are ongoing and I can’t really comment any more on them.

"Of course [we'd like to keep him], of course, he was so important for us last season, look at the minutes he played.

"We knew it was going to be a challenging situation but hopefully we will get a bit more clarity on that soon enough, but it would be wrong for me to comment any more on it."

The Springbok has reported back to province and will now be given a couple of weeks off to rest following the tournament, and Rowntree (above) says he will be back training on 20 November, ahead of the trip to face Leinster at the Aviva Stadium.

"Jean was sat in my office yesterday. He's back from South Africa, back from his celebrations, crikey they did some celebrating.

"He has got a horrible haircut. RG [Snyman] went around skinning half the forwards by the look of it, haircut wise."

While Kleyn will report back for training in two weeks, it will be a lot longer before his fellow World Cup-winning second row RG Snyman makes his return.

The 28-year-old will have surgery on a shoulder injury on Friday which is expected to sideline him for months rather than weeks.

"Ultimately we'll have to see what the surgeon finds when he goes in there. That'll give us an exact timeline but it's going to be months, not weeks," the Munster coach said.

Snyman's Munster career has been devastated by injury, with back-to-back ACL tears limiting him to just four games in his first two and a half years at the province.

The South African (below) returned from injury in the final third of last season, making a real impact in his six appearances, and had looked back to his best form during the World Cup, playing six of seven games and scoring a try in the semi-final win against England.

"Devastated for him. He can't get a break," he added.

"He came in late [last season], had a late run, himself and Tadhg Beirne to the season last year. The way he's played for South Africa in the World Cup, he's been a real force. I'm gutted for him, gutted for him."

While Snyman is a loss to any side, Munster appear to be well stocked at second row ahead of Friday's URC trip to face Ulster..

Tadhg Beirne is among the group of Ireland internationals who returned to full training this week, while Fineen Wycherley is another experienced option.

The province's long term options in the second row also look healthy with Tom Ahern and Edwin Edogbo impressing in the early stages of this season.

Ahern has scored tries in back-to-back games, and says the 'Slim Reaper' looks better than ever after bulking up during a long injury layoff last year.

"A deceptively heavy man, as athletic as he is," he says of the 23-year-old.

"He's been unfortunate with injuries, Tom, and it's delayed his progression. He's been really good the last five months, he's worked hard and we've pushed him hard with feedback and review work.

"He's athletic, but it's his contact work that's improved, his ball carry, his shots in defence, and that's aligned with his unique athleticism."

In addition, Rowntree has also been keen to get gametime into 20-year-old academy lock Edogbo (below).

The Cobh native has started all three games this season and scored his first Munster try in the season opener against Sharks, and Rowntree says the second row is a special prospect.

"Aggression, size, he's got it all. I'm keen to push him on.

"He'll get better with more gametime, like a lot of young tight-five forward will. Just his physical size, he has to play, he's moving well in training but around tackle and post-tackle, just being a nuisance over the ball.

"And then carrying, his carry work, crikey he's worked a lot on his ball-carry with Mossy Lawler our skills coach. His lineout work is coming on, he's going to be a special player.

"He quietly goes about his business, same as Tom [Ahern], and looks a lot older than he is. I'm really pleased with how he's progressed," he added.

Watch Ulster v Munster in the URC on Friday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra

Watch Dragons v Leinster in the URC on Sunday from 1pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player