Munster are set to sign Wian du Preez

MUNSTER are set to sign Cheetahs loosehead prop Wian du Preez on a short-term deal which will include the remainder of the Heineken Cup pool matches.
With confirmation that Marcus Horan will be sidelined until after the New Year following a ‘routine medical procedure’, Munster were anxious to bolster their front row options ahead of key Heineken Cup and Magners League ties.
Twenty-seven-year-old Du Preez was the form loosehead in South Africa’s Currie Cup this season and was part of the Cheetahs’ front row that was considered the best scrummaging force in the competition.
Du Preez was a shock exclusion from the Springbok squad for the autumn internationals, but has since been called into the touring party for upcoming fixtures, including the Test against Ireland on November 21 and earlier games against both Italy and Guinness Premiership side Saracens.
Du Preez had been due to join up with his new Munster team-mates shortly, but his call-up into the Springboks squad for their tour of Europe is set to delay his arrival until after the World champions Test match with Ireland in Dublin. The Munster management team will be keeping their fingers crossed that Du Preez remains injury free during his involvement with the Springboks in the coming weeks.
Du Preez said he was looking forward to playing for ‘one of Europe’s powerhouses.’ The prop is expected to return to South Africa on January 25 in time for the Cheetahs’ Super 14 preparations.
“The deal has been sealed and I will be leaving next weekend for two months,” Du Preez is reported to have told keo.co.za.
“It will be a great experience. In the last three years Munster have won the European Cup twice.
“So it’s good to know I’ll be playing for one of Europe’s powerhouses.”
Du Preez added that he is looking forward to featuring alongside players like Springbok centre Jean de Villiers.
“It will be great to meet up with an excellent player like Jean.
“There are also many British and Irish Lions and other internationals in the squad so I will learn a lot during my time there.”
Du Preez’s signing is as a result of an irregularly used law within the ERC (European Cup Rugby) guidelines which allow clubs to select an additional player to replace one of the club’s squad provided they have a minimum three-month contract.
Du Preez should be available to play in four rounds of the Magners League and the final four pool matches in the Heineken Cup including the crucial back-to-back fixtures against Perpignan next month.
Marcus Horan will be unavailable for the majority of those games having undergone a medical procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat.
“Following further tests this week Horan underwent a routine medical procedure today and will undergo a period of rest over the next number of weeks,” the IRFU said in a statement.
“It is expected that he will be available to Munster and Ireland after the New Year.”
The original 39-man Irish panel for the Guinness Series has been divided into two separate squads with 31 players named in the senior squad which includes further player additions to the original panel.
A 22-man Ireland A squad to play Tonga at Ravenhill next Friday will be in camp in Belfast and the full team to play Tonga will be announced tomorrow.
The A squad has one remaining place to be filled in the hooker position. Sean Cronin, John Fogarty and Jerry Flannery have all been retained with the senior squad as Flannery continues to recover from a calf injury which has progressed well during this week.
Ireland face Australia in their opening game of the Guinness Series on Sunday next at Croke Park (3pm).

COLM KINSELLA