Springbok Marvin Orie joins Ospreys on loan

Ospreys have signed South Africa international Marvin Orie on a short-term loan as second-row cover for their World Cup stars.

Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Beard and Bradley Davies are all in Japan with Wales, while James King and Ben Glynn – himself signed as cover earlier this month – are both injured , leaving the Swansea-based region short of lock forwards.

Orie, who has three Springboks caps to his name and arrives from the Lions, is expected to join the squad early next week and will be in south Wales until December 26.

The big lock, who represented the Springboks in the Rugby Championship, is currently on standbye for the Bok squad after narrowly missing out on selection for the Rugby World Cup and is excited about the prospect.

“I am looking forward to joining a great club like Ospreys. There are a few big fixtures coming up for the club and hopefully I can be part and contribute,” he said.

“While watching some of their recent games I am impressed with the character of the team to pull off a couple of close wins. I believe I will also learn a lot playing in a different league and different conditions from what I am use to which makes this couple of months with Ospreys even more exciting.”

Orie is waiting for his visa before heading north to a club that already has three South African familiar faces in Tom Botha, Hanno Dircksen and Shaun Venter playing for them.

– PA, additional material PRO14

Eddie Jones, John Mitchell and Owen Farrell hold a top table press conference as England begin a week of preparations ahead of facing Japan in a World Cup semi-final in Japan.