Chris Cloete to leave Munster for Bath next season

He will follow outgoing boss and fellow South African Johann van Graan to English club

Chris Cloete has spent the last five seasons at Munster but this will be his last. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
Chris Cloete has spent the last five seasons at Munster but this will be his last. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

Bath have signed South African flanker Chris Cloete from Munster for next season.

Cloete, 31, has spent the last five seasons at the Irish province and previously played for the Southern Kings, Western Province and the Pumas in South Africa.

“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,” he said.

Cloete was out of contract with the province this summer, and he will now follow outgoing boss Johann van Graan, who is set to take up the head coach role with Bath next season.

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In a press release issued by Bath, Cloete added: “It is a fantastic club with great history, and the supporters deserve nothing less than a winning team.”

Springbok centre Damian de Allende also confirmed this week that he will leave Munster at the end of the season but he will not be staying in Europe.