Munster to lose Thaakir Abrahams to URC rivals

The Bulls have reached an agreement with Munster winger Thaakir Abrahams to return to South Africa next summer, replacing Springbok star Kurt-Lee Arendse, who is off to Japan later this year.

Bulls boss Johan Ackermann launched a worldwide search for a replacement as soon as Arendse told them he would be linking up with the Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars this season, and he has found him in south-west Ireland.

Abrahams, 27, who has scored one try against Castres in the Champions Cup in 11 games this season, has been in talks with the Bulls about moving to Pretoria when his contract runs out at the end of the campaign.

Former Junior Springbok Abrahams started his career with five tries in 18 appearances for the Sharks before spending a season with French club Lyon, where he scored seven times in 13 appearances.

It was announced in May 2024 that he was moving to Munster after Ireland and Lions star Simon Zebo called time on his career, and Paarl-born Abrahams, who has been compared to Cheslin Kolbe, has crossed the line five times in 23 appearances.

But it will be his last season at the club unless the deal collapses at the last minute, with Ackermann keen to get in a player who wouldn’t be missing for large parts of next season with the Springboks.

He has already signed Griquas winger Dylan Maart, who will join the Bulls after the Currie Cup, and now has almost got a deal for Abrahams, who can also play at full-back across the line.

It will be a blow to Munster, with the province already losing another South African, lock Jean Kleyn, who is moving across the Irish Sea to join Gallagher PREM strugglers Gloucester, who picked up only their second win of the season at the weekend.

Kleyn, who has played international rugby for both Ireland and South Africa and made over 160 appearances for Munster, has signed a three-year deal with the Cherry and Whites.