SA-born flanker Chris Cloete swaps URC for English Premiership!

South African-born flanker Chris Cloete will leave Irish giants Munster for English Premiership Bath at the end of the season. 

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Bath confirmed the signing of Cloete from Munster, who is poised to join the English side ahead of the 2022/23 Rugby season. 

Cloete joined Munster from the Southern Kings

Cloete had been snapped up by Munster a couple of seasons ago, after he left the now defunct former Eastern Cape Super Rugby side the Southern Kings. The Eastern-Cape-born player was instrumental to the Kings in his two season there, with his fine form in 2017 proving too much to ignore, as he found himself selected in the South Africa ‘A’ side.

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Since moving to Munster, however, Cloete has battled to hold down a regular starting berth amongst the established international loose forwards already in the team. Now having spent the last five seasons in Ireland, the open-side flanker has now decided that it time to tackle greener pastures and get a change of scenery. He will be following fellow South African in coach Johann van Graan to Bath for the new season. 

Bath react to signing

“Chris (Cloete) will bring a new dimension to an impressive group of back-row forwards, as we maintain our primary recruitment focus of adding power to the pack for next season. Negotiations with second-row forwards are continuing,” said Bath chief executive Tarquin McDonald on announcing the move.

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Cloete himself then reacted to the move to Bath.

Chris has his say

“To play in the Premiership has always been a clear ambition, and I look forward to making a significant contribution as Bath move towards the top of the league, It is a fantastic club with great history, and the supporters deserve nothing less than a winning team.” Said Cloete.  

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During his time in South Africa, Cloete also turned out for the Sharks, Western Province and the Pumas in Currie Cup rugby.