Scarlets made Springbok dream come true - Van der Merwe

Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe says the west Wales region helped him achieve his dream of becoming a Springbok as he prepares to leave Llanelli for Irish province Munster.

The 29-year-old South African international will join Munster ahead of the 2026-27 United Rugby Championship (URC) season after agreeing a two-year deal, bringing an end to an influential spell at Parc y Scarlets.

Van der Merwe made his South Africa debut in July and played his part in their Rugby Championship triumph, featuring in victories over New Zealand and Australia after impressing during his time in west Wales.

Reflecting on his spell with the Scarlets, Van der Merwe said the region played a major role in his rise to international rugby.

"Looking back at it, a lot of stuff happened in the year and a half that I've been here. A lot of good happened, more good to me personally," he said.

"I'm grateful for Scarlets and everyone that supported me – the team, fans, all of them. I'm grateful for each and every one.

"Even coaches that were hard on me, players that were hard on me, they made me the player who I am now. I'm very happy – I couldn't have picked a better club to be at."

Van der Merwe says the challenge of testing himself in a new environment helped him develop and pushed him towards international recognition.

"The players here have stepped up and they helped me improve as much as I helped them," he added.

"We were hard on each other and tried to leave the jersey in a better place than we found it."

Asked what his main memory of the Scarlets would be, Van der Merwe pointed to fulfilling a lifelong ambition.

"The friends I've made and the fact they have driven me to become a Springbok. I think that's the main thing," he said.

"The coaching staff helped me achieve my dream and every step from the start I joined here they told me they wanted to push to get me there.

"I'm grateful every step of the way for actually achieving that and making my dream come true, so I'm grateful for Scarlets for doing that. I'll never forget this place."

Before his departure, Van der Merwe is hoping to help Scarlets finish the season strongly, starting with this weekend's tough test in Llanelli against a Bulls side packed with Springbok talent.

"They're loaded with Springboks, a lot of good players, a lot of physical players," he said.

"They're the favourites, so we as a team just go out there as the underdogs.

"They are a good scrummaging side, a good mauling side, good ball runners, tough tackling and very physical.

"We just need to step up physically, make sure we are in the game physically, then you will have a good game at hand."