Munster battling Jake White's Bulls for Mornay Smith

Munster are very keen to sign South African tighthead Mornay Smith, but they face one major obstacle in their bid to bring him to the province in time for the start of next season – and it could be a deal-breaker.

Munster, who have appointed Clayton McMillan as their new coach for next season, want to add another tighthead to their squad before he arrives from the Hamilton-based Chiefs when the 2025 Super Rugby season ends in July.

McMillan will already have new signings, former England inside centre Dan Kelly and Connacht fly-half JJ Hanrahan, waiting for him when he joins the twice European champions for pre-season training.

The vacancy in the front row has been caused by the departure of veteran former Ireland international Stephen Archer, who announced his retirement two weeks ago after a record-breaking career of 300 appearances.

The problem is that the Bulls, who are second in the United Rugby Championship table, are short of options on the tighthead side themselves and want Smith to remain at Loftus Versfeld next season.

Jake White will lose Tielman Nieuwoudt, a loosehead who also covers tighthead, when he joins the Cheetahs this summer, while Khutha Mchunu departed for the Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars earlier in the season.

Pretoria-born Smith, 27, who has twice won the Currie Cup with the Bulls, has played 11 games this season, including his side’s 16–13 win at Thomond Park in April.

The former South Africa Schools A international was among the replacements for South Africa A when they faced Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate in November 2022.

He was linked with both Bristol Bears and Gloucester earlier in the season, before Carlu Sadie opted to remain in Bordeaux. The Bulls now want Smith to stay for the final year of his contract and appear unlikely to let him go.