Bath Rugby on the verge of landing giant double World Cup winning Springbok
Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan is set to be reunited with giant World Cup-winning South African international lock RG Snyman next season according to multiple reports. Van Graan, who is known for his admiration of big, powerful ball carriers, signed 28-year-old Snyman when he was in charge at United Rugby Championship side Munster, but the 6ft 9in lock’s move to Ireland has to go down as unfulfilled having endured a torrid run of injuries to make just 10 appearances for the province. Snyman, who moved to Munster from Japanese League One side Mie Honda Heat in 2020, has been sidelined with two ACL injuries and is currently out until March after he underwent surgery on a shoulder injury he suffered at the World Cup.
But the 34-cap Springbok is now in the elite club of being a double World Cup winner, having been a part of the squads that were crowned champions in 2019 out in Japan and 2023 in France. This Autumn Snyman came off the bench in six of South Africa’s seven matches in the competition, scoring a crucial try in the semi-final victory over England. Munster, who won the URC last season with Snyman coming off the bench in the first half to play 46 minutes against the Stormers, have already confirmed the big second row will leave the club at the end of the 2023/24 season when his contract expires and both The Rugby Paper[2] and French newspaper L’Equipe report Bath have agreed a fee in the region of GBP450,000 a year to bring Snyman to the Recreation Ground, where he will join fellow giant Springbok Thomas du Toit.
That wage appears to have seen van Graan beat the likes of his former club, the Bulls, and the Sharks and Stormers in South Africa to Synman’s signature. Asked about the rumours linking Snyman with a move to Bath after his team had just beaten Exeter Chiefs 41-24 to go second in the Gallagher Premiership, level on points with leaders Sale Sharks, van Graan said: “I presume you are talking about RG Snyman. He’s a player I’ve coached since his school days.
I’ve coached him with South Africa and Munster. I’m never going to look at any media reports or speculation… No comment at this stage.”
At this stage.
Despite already having a high-calibre squad which is understood to be right up to the current baseline GBP5m salary cap in the Gallagher Premiership, Bath’s spending power will increase next season with the salary cap returning to GBP6.4m, allowing clubs with the budget to add stars.