Munster could look south for cover during the World Cup with Australian forward Jed Holloway a target for the province.

A final decision on their recruitment could depend on Ireland’s squad with first-choice pairing Jean Kleyn and Tadhg Beirne vying for positions on the plane to Japan in the coming days and Peter O’Mahony also on his way to the World Cup.

If, as looks increasingly likely, all three travel it could leave the cupboard bare and Johann van Graan is on the look-out for short-term options during the busy period.

The 26-year-old uncapped Waratah fits the bill. Holloway recently signed a two-year deal to remain in Australia, but may be allowed travel north for the experience of European competition in the coming months despite plans for him to play in the domestic National Rugby Championships this month.

He has represented the Waratahs more than 50 times in Super Rugby, earning praise for his defensive work as he played across the back five of the scrum.

Speaking last week, van Graan said there would be scope for Munster to bring in some short-term options in

"Certainly for, let's call it the full-time contracts for the year that is finished, but depending on what happens in Irish selection, we are looking at possibly bringing in World Cup cover in some positions,” van Graan said last week

"The previous times that we wanted to bring in players on short-term, obviously a work permit is a pretty big part of it, so we are certainly looking at it and looking around the world at certain possibilities.

“David (Nucifora) has been fantastic in his communication to us as to what we can do and hopefully we will know pretty soon what we can move on and we can't in terms of World Cup cover."

Online Editors