Springbok scrumhalf Ricky Januarie will be loaned out by Western Province to the Ospreys, for two months in a bid to get some much-needed game-time before the start of the Super 14 season.

The nuggety scrumhalf has experienced a disappointing 2009 season after he was one of the Boks' stars in 2008 - in which he scored a decisive try against the All Blacks in Dunedin to secure an historic victory. He was also named man of the match against England at Twickenham at the end of last year.

However, after playing a bit-part during the Boks' successful 2009 Lions as well as Tri-Nations series, he failed to make the year-end squad. He also lost his starting spot at the Stormers and Western Province to Dewaldt Duvenage and he will probably be down the pecking order in next year's Super 14.

With the Ospreys' British and Irish Lions No.9, Mike Phillips, still injured the Welsh outfit approached the Cape side for Januarie's services for December and January where he will compete with former Canterbury scrumhalf, Jamie Nutbrown for the Ospreys' No.9 jumper in the Heineken Cup and Magners League.

The Ospreys has a host of established international players such as Tommy Bowe, Lee Byrne, Jerry Collins, Gavin Henson and Shane Williams.

Western Province Senior Professional Coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed Januarie's short-term deal to this website.

"Ospreys have a few injuries in the scrumhalf department and the coach phoned me about Ricky going over," Erasmus told us.

"He'll go over for eight weeks and have a full bash with them and he'll be back for our flirt warm-up game against Boland ahead of the Super 14 season. They've also agreed for him to do the same conditioning as he would have done here with us, so it's beneficial for everybody."

While Januarie struggled to find regular game-time this year, Erasmus insisted that he is still a big part of the Stormers' plans for 2010.

"Ricky just missed out on the Boks' end of year tour and he hasn't played a lot of rugby this year. But he remains a big part of our plans for next year along with guys like Dewaldt Duvenage and Bolla Conradie."

Meanwhile, Erasmus also confirmed that Eastern Province loose-forward Jaques Potgieter is on trial with the Cape franchise while Boland's Argentinian prop recruit, Eusebio Guinazu, will also be in the Stormers' pre-season mix.

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