Jean Kleyn fulfils his childhood dream of representing the Boks at the World Cup

Dual international Jean Kleyn is thrilled to realise a childhood dream as he prepares to represent the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup in France, kicking off next month.

This will be Kleyn’s second successive appearance at a Rugby World Cup, albeit in slightly different colours, after he played for his adopted country Ireland at the 2src19 event in Japan.

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Despite staying in good form since that tournament, Kleyn was not selected for the Irish again and that opened the door for the Boks to hook him back in after World Rugby changed their illegibility laws.

“This has been a crazy period of my life. A few months ago, the thought of playing for the Boks had never entered my head. I shouted ‘yes’ to Rassie (Erasmus, SA Rugby director of rugby) on the phone,” said Kleyn after the World Cup squad announcement.

“Playing for your home country is going to mean that little bit more because it is, well, home. I grew up with dreams in my head of being the next Bakkies Botha. I wasn’t hoping to play for Ireland. You talk about chi