Leinster v Stormers the big read about the big man RG Snyman, the big game, Tokyo, Siberia, Limerick and Dublin
RG Snyman isn’t just one of the best players at Leinster or in Ireland or in the URC, that’s surefire setting the bar too low – he is currently one of the best in the world.
That the big Viking should have ended up at Leinster, not just one of the best clubs in Ireland or simply the runaway URC leaders and unbeaten in Europe, but one of the best clubs in the world was, granted, an oddity.
Signed to Munster and arriving following the first of his two Rugby World Cup wins in 2019, he spent four seasons in Limerick beforehand, arriving following his second Rugby World Cup win in 2023.
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READ MORE: RG Snyman – 464 minutes at Leinster and already a demi-god
Perhaps the most pertinent fact about this signing is that Snyman was a free agent at the time as Munster, for what is believed to be financial constraints, had not offered him a new contract – a free agency that Leinster’s media team had to reiterate last week in the face some hostile social media gathering momentum on this theme.
If there is to be a surprise surrounding Snyman’s landing in Dublin it is that the IRFU allowed it, the deal coming on the cusp of the departure of David Nucifora and the arrival of David Humphreys as IRFU Performance Director; whichever one deserves the credit, sanctioning it was genius.

(Image: ©INPHO/Ben Brady)
For those who get to see Snyman ‘live’ at the minute, they are getting top level activity/entertainment such as the thrill of watching the GAA’s all-rounder Brian Fenton in recent years or what’s on offer from a David Clifford at his peak can provide…
At the same time it would be fair to say the only performance(s) that have come close to the South African’s 464 rugby minutes this season was Rhasidat Adeleke’s less than collective one minute in winning 100m heats/final at the 2024 National Championships in Santry last June.
Then again, perhaps the only thing more surprising comparing domicile Snyman with exile Adeleke is that the former is the owner of two dogs that disprove the idea pets and owners grow to look like each other – he owns cocker and springer spaniels called Tokyo and Siberia.
The first is reference to a happy time, winning RWC 2010 in Japan, and while he doesn’t explain the second, it is surely a less-than oblique reference to the vast wasteland that became his time at Munster…

(Image: ©INPHO/SteveHaagSports/Steve Haag)
From a player who, potentially coming to the peak of his powers over a four year period was restricted to 20 games totalling just 824 minutes – the last ten of them, 556 minutes, coming Feb-June 2024 and following the December 2024 revelation he was on the move.
Snyman has settled better than just well at the Blues. They are, he says, providing him with the rugby platform he craves.
“The whole set-up that is built here at Leinster and then the amount of talent that is here at the club, it’s crazy to think about it,” he says flatly.
“The depth Leinster has, it’s something that shouldn’t be taken lightly and I think we should appreciate what we have in that. It’s very much just next guy in the role and you take over.
“It is a great environment for guys to grow, step in and learn as well as voice your opinion. I think there is a lot of learning to be done in that as well.
“I think that is what we want to do a little bit more of especially with some of the younger guys. Get them up to speed, so it’s even a little bit more smooth from week to week if we have to change and swap guys in and out.”
Snyman has played Blue Bulls (2015-16), Bulls (2015-19) in Pretoria, Honda Heat (2017-20) in Suzuka City near the F1 track, Munster (2020-24), while variously playing South Africa schools, U20s, ‘A’ (2013-16) and the Springboks-proper (2018-, 39 caps) so there is a fair amount to compare Leinster with.
“Yeah, I probably summed it up there in what I just said about the environment for guys to grow and step in and learn, as well as voice your opinion and there’s a lot of learning to be done in that as well.
“So I think that whole setup that’s being built, that is built here at Leinster and then the amount of talent that is at the club, it’s actually crazy to think about it and the depth Leinster does have, it’s something that shouldn’t be taken lightly and I think we should appreciate what we have in that.”
Moreover, and speaking in a week where the club’s social media has gained some unwanted criticism for ‘Blue-on-Blue’ fire, criticism of the coach and a specific senior player that crossed a line, Snyman has nothing but praise for the 99.99 percent.
“Earlier, near the start of the season we played against Munster in Croke Park, selling out 80,000 people. It’s quite rare you see that and I think it says a lot about the club and the fanbase because I have found the people great here and they’re very welcoming.
“It’s even been good after the games, you go to the pub and you have a pint. It’s all good and everyone is very excited about the season and what is ahead, what we’ve done so far. It’s just class to play.”
It’s not just the dozen and more Ireland internationals, fellow imports such as Jordie Barrett, Rabah Slimani or the slew of burgeoning talent, there is also the emphasis on excellence, the club’s ethos inspiring attacking rugby, Jacques Nienaber marshalling the defence.
“Definitely, the emphasis is on trying to keep the ball alive and, again, like we said at half-time last Saturday, just have a bit of fun. It’s the main reason why we all started playing the game.
“I think that is when your skill set is best put on show, when you’re actually just having a bit of fun. If you’re playing with guys in the week, I think I’m a little bit shocked every week to see the amount of talent and then to have guys like Sam (Prendergast) come through.
“It’s incredible to see the skill set that he has and it’s exciting to play off that and, like that offload on the weekend, you can sometimes just throw the ball around a bit knowing that he’ll be there and he’ll be able to pick the ball up. It’s not just him and it’s exciting to play with guys like that, that has that read on the game.”
And then there is the individual impact, Snyman’s talent, weight, height, power, determination, invention.
“Ah look, I just keep running the lines and if they give me the ball, then it works out okay, that’s the thing. I think ‘balance’ is the perfect word to sum it up and it’s not just about that because it can easily get loose then and you can get off target a bit.”
“Sometimes it’s also fun to just run into somebody! I think players differ as well. Guys enjoy the contact a little bit more and certain guys enjoy throwing the ball around. The secret is being able to do both.”

(Image: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo)
Rugby fans looking for fireworks from a Leinster side under the pin of their collar selection-wise this week were shown some treats last week, two tries and a sumptuous off-load to Sam Prendergast.
“No, I have to give credit to Sam there. He’s a guy that can read the game very well and it’s just, actually, it’s class to see if you go through the line and you’re looking for someone to offload the ball to, and you see it’s Sam is right there.
“He’s always ready to get the ball, to receive it there and there’s no better player to offload the ball to there in a situation like that. Even the play off the back of that, handing the ball off again and then being able to get the line-break down the side it’s, yeah, it’s incredible.
“I didn’t quite know he was there but that’s why I’m saying he reads the game so well because he was able to put himself in that position and, you know, because sometimes they can be a little bit of a disconnect when you want to throw offload or something like that but not with Sam, he’s always there.”
Moreover, working with Leo Cullen and Jacques Nienaber at Leinster and Rassie Erasmus with South Africa is surely quite the thing.
“I enjoy working with different people because, again, I think there’s a lot to be learned in working in different environments. It’s definitely interesting to see two different perspectives of playing style and even managing the players, and things like that.
“I enjoy it, it’s not something that’s easy to adapt to always, but it is definitely something that once you get the hang of it, you learn a lot from being in different set-ups and working under different people.”
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