In July 2017, it was announced that Cloete had joined Irish United Rugby Championship side Munster on a three-year contract. He made his debut for the province on 3 November 2017, starting against Welsh side Dragons in a 2017–18 Pro14 fixture and helping Munster to a 49–6 win. Cloete earned the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 36–19 away win against Zebre on 26 November 2017. He scored his first try for Munster in their 36–10 win against Ospreys on 2 December 2017. Cloete made his European Rugby Champions Cup debut on 9 December 2017, starting in the Pool 4 fixture against Leicester Tigers in Thomond Park and scoring a try in the provinces' 33–10 win.