South Africa's Ricky Januarie has agreed a three-month loan deal at the Ospreys to provide emergency cover.
Springbok agrees short-term deal to aid Ospreys' challenge
South Africa's Ricky Januarie has agreed a three-month loan deal at the Ospreys to provide emergency cover after the club lost three scrum-halves through injury.
The 27-year-old, who has 40 caps for the Springboks, will arrive at the Liberty Stadium at the beginning of December - with Januarie lined up to make his Magners League debut against the Scarlets on Boxing Day.
With Mike Phillips, Jamie Nutbrown and Tom Isaacs ruled out for the foreseeable future, and young player Rhys Webb making a tentative return from injury, Januarie will be a welcome addition to the squad.
Januarie spent the year playing for the Stormers in the Super 14 and Western Province in the Currie Cup and made his last played for the Springboks in September against New Zealand.
He also featured in the first Test against the British & Irish Lions in June, which finished 26-21 to South Africa.
Exceptional
Elite performance director for the Ospreys Andrew Hore said: "We have moved to secure Ricky's services because of the exceptional circumstances we face at scrum-half at this moment in time.
"December and January is a particularly tough period in the rugby calendar. It is make or break time in terms of European competition, and the possibility of securing a home quarter-final, and also, as far as our hopes of securing a top four position in the Magners League.
"Ricky Januarie certainly fits the bill. He is a proven performer at the top level of the game, and he is really up for it.
"Having just missed out on the Springboks' European tour squad, he wants to come to Ospreylia and send out a message, before returning home to join up with the Stormers for the new Super 14 season.
"We are grateful to the WRU for their understanding of the current situation, and we look forward to Ricky joining the squad for training next week, ahead of the Viadana matches."
