Kirchner to suffer same fate as Pienaar?

Cape Town - The Irish Rugby Football Union’s succession plan policy could force former Springbok fullback Zane Kirchner to leave Leinster at the end of the season.

According to Planet Rugby, Kirchner’s contract expires at the end of the season and while he would like to extend his stay, it might not be possible.

Kirchner's former Bok team-mate Ruan Pienaar will be forced to leave Ulster when the 2016/17 season concludes due to the succession policy which restricts non-Irish qualified (NIQ) players at the provinces to one per position.

The arrival of New Zealand scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park at Leinster proved fatal to Pienaar's Ulster career and with another Kiwi, fullback Charles Piutau, arriving in Belfast, Kirchner looks set to suffer the same fate.

Kirchner, 32, played 31 Tests for the Springboks between 2009 and 2015.