Urgent.

Munster Rugby head coach Graham Rowntree has admitted the province will look to make an “urgent” short-term signing as injuries continue to pile up for the province.

Jeremy Loughman became the latest loosehead prop to pick up an injury in the defeat to the Stormers last weekend, adding to the already injured trio of Josh Wycherley, Mark Donnell, and Dave Kilcoyne.

It leaves academy pair Kieran Ryan and George Hadden as the only two fit looseheads available for Rowntree to pick from against the Sharks this weekend who have named an all-Springbok front-row of Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, and Vincent Koch.

John Ryan may be forced to switch across from tighthead to loose this weekend to combat the issue.

“Of course, I have,” Rowntree when asked if he was looking into a short-term signing.

“That’s an urgent, an urgent thing to be getting on with. We’ll see how that unfolds.”

Under David Humphreys, the IRFU recently blocked all front-row signings as the national team looks to improve their stock. Rabah Slimani got in the door at Leinster just as this was announced and Munster will be hoping an exemption can be made in these extreme circumstances.