Kleyn and Bleyendaal to feature for Munster in pre-season friendly

New second row Jean Kleyn and out-half Tyler Bleyendaal are expected to feature for Munster in Friday’s pre-season friendly against Worcester at Irish Independent Park in Cork.

However, young out-half Johnny Holland is expected to miss the opening games of the Guinness Pro12 season with a hamstring injury.

Kleyn joined Munster from South African side the Stormers and is in line to make his first appearance for the province on Friday while New Zealander Bleyendaal is also in the frame to make his return from a quad injury that restricted him to just five appearances last season.

Munster Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus also confirmed at the Pro12 launch in Dublin that former Leinster player Colm O’Shea will remain involved with the province following his trial period. He featured in last weekend’s 17-0 win over Zebre and Munster will again field a mixture of senior, academy and club players against a Worcester side likely to include former Munster legend Donncha O’Callaghan.

Munster will again be without their international contingent who are in camp with Ireland this week for Friday’s game, their last pre-season outing before the start of the Pro12. Their first game in that competition is away to the Scarlets on Saturday week, September 3, and they then host Cardiff in Cork six days later. The first game in Limerick will be against Edinburgh on Saturday, September 24.